Linear and nonlinear optical properties of excitons in semiconductor quantum wells and microcavities

Linear and nonlinear light propagation in single and multiple quantum wells and in semiconductor microresonators are studied on the basis of Maxwell’s equations. The treatment includes radiative broadening of quantum-confined excitons, radiative coupling between quantum wells as well as coupling of quantum wells to the cavity field of a microresonator for steady state or ultrashort pulse excitation. The dynamical evolution of the coherent quantum-well polarization under the influence of many-body effects is studied within a microscopic model. The theory is used to investigate the influence of exciton saturation and dephasing on pulse propagation and excitonic normal-mode coupling.