Generation and detection of nano ultrasound waves with a multiple strained layer structure

In this paper a multiple strained layer structure with multiple quantum wells as a piezoelectric transducer is proposed for generating and detecting nano ultrasound waves with nanometer wavelength and tera hertz frequency. By inducing femtosecond optical pulses at this strained structure, internal piezoelectric field is changed. As a result longitudinal acoustic phonon oscillations can be treated as nano acoustic waves. It could be noticed in simulated cases that detection of nano ultrasound waves can be used in non destructive testing and high accuracy measurements with this structure. It is also shown that the MQW structure design how influences in generated nano acoustic waves.     

The influence of surfaces and interfaces on coherent phonons in semiconductors

Experiments have shown that ultrafast optical excitation of semiconductors can produce oscillating changes in the optical properties of the material. The frequency of the oscillations in transmission or reflection usually matches one of the phonon modes, typically theq = 0 optical mode. These oscillations are known as coherent phonons. We discuss the role of surfaces and interfaces on the coherent phonon signal. We show that: (1) the coherent phonon signal can be used as a probe of the surface depletion field and (2) multiple interfaces as in a superlattice, can drastically alter the coherent phonon spectrum: screening of the modes in the superlattices is reduced and acoustic modes can now be excited.     

Decoherence in superconducting quantum bits by phonon radiation

We discuss a fundamental limitation for the coherent operation of superconducting quantum bits originating from phonon radiation generated in the Josephson junctions of the device. The time dependent superconducting phase across the junction produces an electric field that couples to the underlying crystal lattice via the piezoelectric effect. We determine the radiation resistance of the junction due to phonon emission and derive substantial decoherence rates for the quantum bits, which are compatible with quality factors measured in recent experiments.     

Application of a continued-fraction-based theory to magneto-optical intraband transition in GaAs and CdS

The quantum theory of intraband magneto-optical transition in semiconductors introduced previously in terms of continued-fraction-based power-series-expansion technique is reviewed in connection with examination of temperature- and dimensional-dependence of the width in GaAs and CdS in which piezoelectric scattering is dominant. With the same values of the piezoelectric coupling constant K and the expansion parameter the width in two-dimensions increases with temperature as in three-dimensions. Furthermore, the width becomes smaller uniformly as the dimension is reduced in the direction of static magnetic field in the quantum limit, which is physical. Therefore, the continued-fraction-based theory gives quite good interpretation of the acoustic phonon scattering in the quantum limit.     

Control of coherent acoustic phonons in semiconductor quantum wells.

Using subpicosecond optical pump-probe techniques, coherent zone-folded longitudinal acoustic phonons (ZFLAPs) were investigated in an InGaN multiple quantum well structure. A two-pump differential transmission technique was used to generate and control coherent ZFLAP oscillations through the relative timing and amplitude of the two pump pulses. Enhancement and suppression of ZFLAP oscillations were demonstrated, including complete cancellation of generated acoustic phonons for the first time in any material system. Coherent control was used to demonstrate that ZFLAPs are generated differently in InGaN multiple quantum wells than in GaAs/AlAs superlattices.     

Effects of non-equilibrium polar optic phonons and the band non-parabolicity on small signal high-frequency hot electrons ac mobility in narrow gap semiconductors in high magnetic fields

The small signal high-frequency ac mobility of hot electrons in n-HgCdTe in the extreme quantum limit at low and high temperatures have been calculated considering the non-equilibrium phonon distribution as well as the thermal phonon distribution .The energy loss rate has been calculated considering only optical phonon scattering while the momentum loss rate has been calculated considering acoustic phonon scattering and piezoelectric scattering together with polar optical phonon scattering and separately considering only the polar optical scattering. The results have been discussed and compared. It has been observed that at 20 K, the normalized mobility considering all the three scattering mechanisms differs appreciably from that considering only the polar optical phonon scattering. However, at 77 K, there is no difference in the normalized mobility. This establishes the fact that at higher temperature, the effect of acoustic phonon scattering and piezoelectric coupling is negligible, compared to the polar optical phonon scattering. So the ac mobility considering only polar optical phonon scattering has been studied at 77 and 20 K. The ac mobility is found to remain constant up to 100 GHz and thereafter it started decreasing at higher frequencies at 77 K whereas the ac mobility reduces at much lower frequencies at lower temperature at lower field. The non-parabolicity of the band structure enhances the normalized mobility.     

半导体超晶格声子激光器的研究进展

太赫兹频率的相干声子在纳米尺度器件的探测和操控领域具有重要的应用价值。半导体超晶格声子激光器是实现太赫兹频率相干声子源稳定输出的重要途径。本文首先回顾了GHz到THz频率范围声学放大的多种方法,然后详细阐述了超晶格声子放大、超晶格声学布拉格镜的工作原理与设计方法以及声子激光器的阈值条件,同时总结了电抽运和光抽运结构器件的研究现状,最后简要讨论了亚太赫兹声子激光器在声-电子领域的应用。分析表明,这种能够产生强相干太赫兹声子的半导体超晶格声子激光器在纳米尺度器件的探测与成像等方面具有广阔的发展前景。     

Laser generation of acoustic waves at a periodic domain structure in lithium niobate

Generation of coherent acoustic oscillations due to the interaction of laser pulses with the periodic domain structure formed in a lithium niobate single crystal is observed. It is found that the excitation of acoustic waves is most efficient when the generated wavelength is equal to the period of the domain structure. The proposed mechanism of the optical generation of acoustic oscillations consists of the photogeneration of free carriers, which compensate the polarization fields within the domains, and the occurrence of alternating elastic stresses caused by the piezoelectric effect.     

Coherent shear phonon generation and detection with ultrashort optical pulses

Using an optical technique we generate and detect picosecond shear and quasishear coherent acoustic phonon pulses in the time domain. Thermoelastic and piezoelectric generation are directly achieved by breaking the sample lateral symmetry using crystalline anisotropy. We demonstrate efficient detection in isotropic and anisotropic media with various optical incidence geometries.     

Ultrafast optical probe of coherent acoustic phonons in Co_2MnAl Heusler film

In this work, pronounced oscillations in the time-resolved reflectivity of Heusler alloy Co_2MnAl films which are epitaxially grown on Ga As substrates are observed and investigated as a function of film thickness, probe wavelength,external magnetic field and temperature. Our results suggest that the oscillation response at 24.5 GHz results from the coherent phonon generation in Co_2MnAl film and can be explained by a propagating strain pulse model. From the probe wavelength dependent oscillation frequency, a sound velocity of(3.85±0.1)×10~3m/s at 800 nm for the epitaxial Co_2MnAl film is determined at room temperature. The detected coherent acoustic phonon generation in Co_2MnAl reported in this work provides a valuable reference for exploring the high-speed magnetization manipulation via magnetoelastic coupling for future spintronic devices based on Heusler alloy films.     

Photoinduced phase transitions by time-resolved far-infrared spectroscopy in V2O3

Using time-resolved far-infrared spectroscopy, we observe multiple routes for photoinduced phase transitions in V(2)O(3). This includes (i) a photothermal antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition and (ii) an incipient strain-generated paramagnetic metal to paramagnetic insulator transition, which manifests as coherent oscillations in the far-infrared conductivity. The ～100 ps conductivity oscillation results from coherent acoustic phonon modulation of the bandwidth W. Our results indicate that poor metals are particularly amenable to coherent strain control of their electronic properties.     

Influence of acoustic phonons on dephasing of free excitons in quantum wells

A theory of the dephasing rate of quasi-2D free excitons due to acoustic phonon interaction at low exciton densities is presented. Both deformation potential and piezoelectric couplings are considered for the exciton–phonon interaction in quantum wells. Using the derived interaction Hamiltonian obtained recently by us, exciton linewidth and dephasing rate are calculated as a function of the exciton density, exciton temperature, exciton momentum and lattice temperature.     

Coherent longitudinal-optical ground-state phonon in CdSe quantum dots triggered by ultrafast charge migration

We observe the CdSe longitudinal-optical ground-state phonon in the electron transfer system composed of CdSe quantum dots and methylviologen directly by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. A significant phase shift indicates that the coherent oscillations are triggered by an ultrafast charge migration, which is the consequence of an electron transfer from the photoexcited quantum dot to the molecular acceptor methylviologen. In contrast, the observed coherent phonons in isolated quantum dots stem from the frequency modulation of the quantum dot excited-state spectrum. From the probe wavelength dependence of the longitudinal-optical phonons in the electronic ground state and excited state it is possible to determine a biexciton binding energy of 35?meV.     

二维量子点中极化子的自旋弛豫

在考虑Rashba自旋-轨道耦合的条件下, 采用二次幺正变换和变分方法研究了二维抛物量子点中由于电子与体纵光学声子的耦合作用形成的极化子在基态Zeeman分裂能级上的自旋弛豫过程.这一过程主要是通过吸收或发射一个形变势或压电声学声子完成.具体分析了强、弱耦合两种极限下极化子自旋弛豫率与外磁场、量子点半径、Landau因子参数、Rashba自旋轨道耦合参数的变化关系. 关键词： 自旋弛豫 极化子 Rashba自旋轨道耦合 量子点     

Surface-acoustic-wave-induced transport in a double quantum dot

We report on nonadiabatic transport through a double quantum dot under irradiation of surface acoustic waves generated on chip. At low excitation powers, absorption and emission of single and multiple phonons are observed. At higher power, sequential phonon assisted tunneling processes excite the double dot in a highly nonequilibrium state. The present system is attractive for studying electron-phonon interaction with piezoelectric coupling.     

Lifetime of optical phonons in fs-laser excited bismuth

This paper presents experimental and theoretical results on the temperature-dependent optical response of a single crystal of bismuth to excitation by femtosecond laser pulses. We demonstrate that the measured damping rate of the transient reflectivity oscillations relates to the lifetime of optical phonons. The lifetime is the inverse rate of the decay of optical phonons into two acoustic phonons. This lifetime also indicates the approach to the vibration instability (catastrophe) threshold that manifests the beginning of the disordering of a solid crystal and transition to a liquid state. We observe the red shift of phonon frequency, which increases with the rise of the initial lattice temperature. The red shift is different from the previously observed red shift proportional to the electron temperature, and thus to the excitation laser fluence. The coherent phonon excitation process imprinted into the initial change in the reflectivity and the following reflectivity oscillations allowed us to uncover the temporal phonon history preceding the structural transformation of solid Bi.     

Local flattening of the Fermi surface and quantum oscillations in the magnetoacoustic response of a metal

In the present work, we theoretically analyze the effect of the Fermi surface local geometry on quantum oscillations in the velocity of an acoustic wave travelling in metal across a strong magnetic field. We show that local flattenings of the Fermi surface could cause significant amplification of quantum oscillations. This occurs due to enhancement of commensurability oscillations modulating the quantum oscillations in the electron density of states on the Fermi surface. The amplification in the quantum oscillations could be revealed at fitting directions of the magnetic field.     

双能态自旋-晶格声子耦合量子隧道系统的非经典能态和量子相干耗散

采用关联表象变分波函数方案, 介入三个非经典关联效应, 求解有限温度双能态自旋-晶格声子耦合量子隧道系统的非经典态, 着重研究化解由于粒子自旋-单声子相互作用引起的量子涨落导致双能态系统的退相干性量子耗散. 这三个非经典关联效应是: 1) 声子位移-粒子自旋 (σ_z)间强非绝热关联; 2) 声子压缩态效应及其伴随发生的单声子相干态-声子压缩态两过程相干效应; 3) 由关联表象导致的声子位移(U_D)与声子压缩(U_S)的表象关联非绝热修正. 结果表明: 由于引入粒子自旋-双声子相互作用, 大幅度地增强了声子场压缩态, 特别是更进一步极大幅度地增强了非经典压缩-相干态效应. 因此, 由粒子自旋-单声子相互作用产生的Debye-Walle相干弹性散射效应导致量子隧道项(-Δ₀σ_x)的强烈指数衰减及其伴随严重的量子相干损失的极大幅度的抑制, 并且自旋-晶格声子耦合量子隧道系统的非经典态能量大幅度降低. 关键词： 非经典能态 量子隧穿相干损失 自旋-双声子相互作用 压缩相干态效应     

Electron–phonon-induced spin relaxation in InAs quantum dots

We have calculated spin-relaxation rates in parabolic quantum dots due to the phonon modulation of the spin–orbit interaction in the presence of an external magnetic field. Both deformation potential and piezoelectric electron–phonon coupling mechanisms are included within the Pavlov–Firsov spin–phonon Hamiltonian. Our results have demonstrated that, in narrow gap materials, the electron–phonon deformation potential and piezoelectric coupling give comparable contributions to spin-relaxation processes. For large dots, the deformation potential interaction becomes dominant. This behavior is not observed in wide or intermediate gap semiconductors, where the piezoelectric coupling, in general, governs the spin-relaxation processes. We have also demonstrated that spin-relaxation rates are particularly sensitive to the Landé g-factor.