Inelastic scattering processes in GaAs/n-AlGaAs selectively doped heterojunctions with InGaAs quantum dots

Inelastic scattering processes of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in both normal and inverted n-AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction FET structures have been studied, for the case where InGaAs dots are embedded in the vicinity of GaAs channel. By analyzing the magnetoresistance data, the inelastic scattering time τ_in is determined as a function of the concentration N_2D of 2D electrons and shown to be reduced by 10–40% by the presence of InGaAs dots. By investigating a GaAs/n-AlGaAs inverted heterojunction FET with embedded InGaAs dots, we have varied the percentage P_oc of charged dots filled with an electron and found that τ_in decreases as P_oc increases, indicating that the inelastic scattering rate of 2DEG by charged dots is higher than that by the neutral ones.     

Elastic scattering of holes by acoustic phonons in thin GaAs/GaAlAs quantum wells

The rates of scattering by acoustic phonons _γi→j${\gamma }_{i\to j}$ from subband i→j$i\to j$ are calculated for holes in a narrow GaAs quantum well using the deformation potential, the Luttinger hamiltonian and the Debye approximation. At room temperature, we find that the energy dependences for both intra- and inter-subband scattering rates follow roughly the behavior of the density of states in the subband to which the hole scatters. Moreover, we study the influence of the overlap between the initial and final states, and for elastic processes we find that, unlike for the case of wide quantum wells, for narrow ones integration over the phonon transverse wavevector _qz$q_z$ should be restricted to about 4% of the bulk Brillouin zone extent. In addition the impact of the well width on _γi→j${\gamma }_{i\to j}$ is investigated.     

Analysis of inelastic scattering processes of electrons by localized electrons in quantum dots

The inelastic Coulomb scattering rate 1/τ_in of conduction electrons has been theoretically evaluated in the presence of localized states such as quantum dots. By a diagrammatical method, we have formulated 1/τ_in and its relation to the conductivity σ_loc(ω) through localized states. The dependence of τ_in on temperature T is examined in the case that σ_loc(ω) follows the Mott's model. It is found that 1/τ_in varies as T²(ln Δ/T)^d+1 where d is the dimensionality and Δ is tunneling energy between the localized states in the asymptonic T = 0 limit, in agreement with Imry's calculation. It is also found that calculated 1/τ_in deviates from T²(ln Δ/T)^d+1 as T increases, suggesting the importance of correction term at high temperature.     

Resonant elastic scattering of light from single quantum wells in semiconductor multilayers

A theory is developed for steady-state elastic scattering of light via quasi-2D excitons from a quantum well (QW) whose interfaces are randomly rough. The study is mainly focused on the angle dependences of radiation giving direct information about static disorder responsible for the elastic scattering. A nonlocal excitonic susceptibility is expressed in terms of random profile functions of QW interfaces. Treated is elastic scattering of light from a disordered QW in the following actual dielectric environments: (i) a uniform background, (ii) a Fabry–Perot film with rough boundaries, and (iii) a semiconductor microcavity. The cross-sections are derived analytically for scattering of linearly polarized light to the lowest (Born's) approximation with arbitrary roughness statistics. The spectral and angle dependencies of scattering intensity are analyzed numerically in the absolute-value scale with Gaussian correlation of interface roughness. The probability 10⁻² was found for the exciton-mediated scattering of a photon from a QW interface roughness whose root-mean-square height is on the level of 2×10⁻¹ nm. This probability is shown to exceed by two orders of magnitude that is typical of resonant scattering from either a single semiconductor surface or rough boundaries of a semiconductor Fabry–Perot film containing the QW. The scattering spectrum of a QW placed in a microcavity is predicted to have a doublet structure whose components are associated with the cavity exciton–polaritons.     

Spin-dependent resistivity and quantum Hall ferromagnetism in two-dimensional electrons confined to AlAs quantum wells

We observe a strong dependence of the amplitude and field position of longitudinal resistivity (ρ_xx) peaks in the spin-resolved integer quantum Hall regime on the spin orientation of the Landau level (LL) in which the Fermi energy resides. The amplitude of a given peak is maximal when the partially filled LL has the same spin as the lowest LL, and amplitude changes as large as an order of magnitude are observed as the sample is tilted in field. In addition, the field position of both the ρ_xx peaks and plateau–plateau transitions in the Hall resistance shift depending on the spin orientation of the LLs. The spin dependence of the resistivity points to a new explanation for resistivity spikes, associated with first-order quantum Hall ferromagnetic transitions, that occur at the edges of quantum Hall states.     

Giant population inversion of hot electrons in GaAs/AlAs type heterostructures with quantum wells

The heating of electrons in an Al_xGa_1−x As/GaAs (x>0.42) heterostructure in a lateral (directed along the heterointerfaces) electric field is studied. Population inversion on the size-quantization subbands of the Γ valley of GaAs and a giant population inversion between the X-valley states of Al_xGa_1−x As and Γ-valley states of GaAs are predicted. The possibility of using these inversions for achieving stimulated IR emission is discussed. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 1, 73–77 (10 July 1998)     

Acoustic phonon dephasing in shallow GaAs/Ga Al As single quantum wells

The intermediate dimensionality regime is studied on a set of shallow GaAs/Ga Al As single quantum wells. Such heterostructures exhibit 2D strong excitonic electroabsorption together with near 3D fast transport properties. We report dephasing time measurements of the heavy-hole exciton and we show that the acoustic phonon contribution decreases with to a value in good agreement with theoretical predictions for GaAs bulk.     

Electronic Raman scattering in double semi-parabolic quantum wells

The differential cross-section for electronic Raman scattering in double semi-parabolic quantum wells of typical GaAs/AlxGa1-x As is investigated numerically with the effective-mass approximation. The dependence of the differential cross-section on structural parameters such as the barrier width and the well widths is studied. Our results indicate that the electronic Raman scattering is affected by the geometrical size and can be negligible in the symmetric double-well case.     

Excitonic transitions in Be-doped GaAs/AlAs multiple quantum well

A series of GaAs/AlAs multiple-quantum wells doped with Be is grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The photoluminescence spectra are measured at 4, 20, 40, 80, 120, and 200 K, respectively. The recombination transition emission of heavy-hole and light-hole free excitons is clearly observed and the transition energies are measured with different quantum well widths. In addition, a theoretical model of excitonic states in the quantum wells is used, in which the symmetry of the component of the exciton wave function representing the relative motion is allowed to vary between the two- and threedimensional limits. Then, within the effective mass and envelope function approximation, the recombination transition energies of the heavy- and light-hole excitons in GaAs/AlAs multiple-quantum wells are calculated each as a function of quantum well width by the shooting method and variational principle with two variational parameters. The results show that the excitons are neither 2D nor 3D like, but are in between in character and that the theoretical calculation is in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Phonon satellites and time-resolved studies of carrier recombination dynamics in InGaN quantum wells

We have studied the photoluminescence and time-resolved photoluminescence of a set of InGaN quantum wells with well thickness from 1 to 7.5 nm. An analysis of the phonon satellites at 5 K shows Huang–Rhys factors from 0.32 to 0.44. The increase of this factor is caused by the electron–hole separation induced by the piezoelectric field. The time-resolved photoluminescence at room temperature shows that the decay time of the 1 and 2 nm wells does not depend on the wavelength. The maximum decay time is around 600 ps for the 2, 3 and 4 nm wells. However, for the 3 and 4 nm wells a decrease of the photoluminescence decay time is observed at the highest wavelengths. This suggest the onset of a non-radiative process in these samples. The optimum well width for efficient emission for these single quantum wells was found to be 2 nm.     

Temperature dependence of the inelastic scattering in a GaAs/n-AlGaAs selectively doped heterojunction with InGaAs quantum dots

Inelastic scattering processes of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) have been investigated in a inverted GaAs/n-AlGaAs heterojunction with self-organized InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) embedded near the 2DEG channel where the electron population in the QDs is controllable by the gate voltage V_g. By analyzing magnetoresistance, the inelastic scattering time τ_ε have been evaluated as functions of V_g at 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.7 K. It is found that τ_ε increases with V_g below 0.8 K and decreases above 1.2 K, which suggests that the dominant scattering mechanisms below 0.8 K and above 1.2 K are different. To interpret this behavior, we have calculated the inelastic scattering time theoretically. It is found that the experimental data are well explained by a theoretical model where a 2D electron is considered to be inelastically scattered both by the other 2D electrons and by the trapped electrons in QDs. It is also found that the 2DEG–2DEG scattering is dominant at low temperature, while the 2DEG-QDs scattering becomes important as the temperature increases.     

Hydrostatic pressure effect on the donor impurity states in asymmetric multiple quantum wells

Based on the effective-mass approximation, hydrostatic pressure effect on the donor binding energy in zinc blende (ZB) InGaN/GaN asymmetric multiple quantum wells (AMQWs) is investigated variationally. Numerical results show that the hydrostatic pressure increases the donor binding energy for any impurity position. Moreover, the hydrostatic pressure effect is more noticeable if the impurity is localized inside the wide well of the AMQWs. For any hydrostatic pressure, the donor binding energy is distributed asymmetrically with respect to the center of the AMQWs. In particular, the donor binding energy of impurity located at the center of the wide well of the AMQWs is insensitive to the increment of the inter-well barrier width if the inter-well barrier width is large.     

半导体量子阱材料的自由电子激光辐照效应及OTCS测试研究

利用低温光荧光谱(PL)和光瞬态电流谱(OTCS)研究了自由电子激光辐照对GaAs/AlGaAs多量子阱材料的光学性质以及缺陷能级的影响。用波长为8.92μm,光功率密度相应于电场强度为20kV/cm的自由电子激光辐照多量子阱60min,分析PL谱发现量子阱特征峰(797nm)经过辐照后峰值发生红移至812nm,波形展宽,峰高降低。分析OTCS谱发现自由电子激光辐照引入了新的缺陷能级,量子阱结构发生变化, 对此结果进行了讨论,并与电子辐照的情况做了比较。     

半导体量子阱材料的自由电子激光辐照效应及OTCS测试研究

利用低温光荧光谱(PL)和光瞬态电流谱(OTCS)研究了自由电子激光辐照对GaAs/AlGaAs多量子阱材料的光学性质以及缺陷能级的影响。用波长为8.92μm,光功率密度相应于电场强度为20kV/cm的自由电子激光辐照多量子阱60min,分析PL谱发现量子阱特征峰(797nm)经过辐照后峰值发生红移至812nm,波形展宽,峰高降低。分析OTCS谱发现自由电子激光辐照引入了新的缺陷能级,量子阱结构发生变化, 对此结果进行了讨论,并与电子辐照的情况做了比较。     

Electron tunneling effects on radiative recombination in modulation n-doped ZnSe/BeTe type-II quantum wells

We have studied the cyclotron-resonance absorption and photoluminescence properties of the modulation n-doped ZnSe/BeTe/ZnSe type-II quantum wells.It is shown that only the doped sample shows electron cyclotron-resonance absorption.Also,the undoped sample shows two distinctive peaks in the spatially indirect photoluminescence spectra,and the doped one shows only one peak.The results reveal that the high concentration electrons accumulated in ZnSe quantum well layers from n-doped layers can tunnel through BeTe barrier from one well layer to the other.The electron concentration difference between these two well layers originating from the tunneling results in a new additional electric field,and can cancel out a built-in electric field as observed in the undoped structures.     

Origin of the blueshift in the infrared absorbance of intersubband transitions in N/GaN multiple quantum wells

A self-consistent calculation of the subband energy levels of n-doped quantum wells is studied. A comparison is made between theoretical results and experimental data. In order to account for the deviations between them, the ground-state electron–electron exchange interactions, the ground-state direct Coulomb interactions, the depolarization effect, and the exciton-like effect are considered in the simulations. The agreement between theory and experiment is greatly improved when all these aspects are taken into account. The ground-to-excited-state energy difference increases by 8 meV from its self-consistent value if one considers the depolarization effect and the exciton-like effect only. It appears that the electron–electron exchange interactions account for most of the observed residual blueshift for the infrared intersubband absorbance in Al_xGa_1-xN/GaN multiple quantum wells. It seems that electrons on the surface of the k-space Fermi gas make the main contribution to the electron–electron exchange interactions, while for electrons further inside the Fermi gas it is difficult to exchange their positions.     

Enhanced carrier injection in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells LED with polarization-induced electron blocking barrier

In this report, we designed a light emitting diode (LED) structure in which an N-polar p-GaN layer is grown on top of Ga-polar In_0.1Ga_0.9N/GaN quantum wells (QWs) on an n-GaN layer. Numerical simulation reveals that the large polarization field at the polarity inversion interface induces a potential barrier in the conduction band, which can block electron overflow out of the QWs. Compared with a conventional LED structure with an Al_0.2Ga_0.8N electron blocking layer (EBL), the proposed LED structure shows much lower electron current leakage, higher hole injection, and a significant improvement in the internal quantum efficiency (IQE). These results suggest that the polarization induced barrier (PIB) is more effective than the AlGaN EBL in suppressing electron overflow and improving hole transport in GaN-based LEDs.     

Impact of Al interdiffusion on optical properties in GaSb/AlGaSb multiple quantum wells

We have studied the effect of the Al interdiffusion on the electronic states of AlGaSb–GaSb quantum wells. Measuring the interdiffusion lengths by means of highly depth-resolved secondary ion mass spectrometry we find that the effect of Al diffusion results in the transformation of the ternary–binary system in a ternary–ternary structure. The modified energy levels, calculated on the basis of the measured chemical profile using a Pösch–Teller potential, are consistent with the blue shifts of the PL peaks measured in samples grown with increasing growth temperature.