Hot electron energy and momentum relaxation in GaAs/AlAs and GaAs/Ga1-xAlxAs multiple quantum wells

Experimental results on high electric field longitudinal transport in GaAs/AlAs and GaAs/Ga_1-xAl_xAs multiple quantum wells (MQW) are presented and compared with the prediction of a dielectric continuum model. We draw from our experiments the following four conclusions.(i) In GaAs/Ga_1-xAl_xAs systems the dominant energy and momentum relaxation mechanism is through scattering with GaAs -modes.(ii) However, in GaAs/AlAs systems the AlAs interface mode is dominant in relaxing the energy and momentum of the quantum well electrons.(iii) The hot electron momentum relaxation as obtained from the high-field drift velocity experiments is strongly affected by the production of hot phonons as expected from a model involving a non-drifting hot phonon distribution.(iv) The importance of the AlAs interface mode in GaAs/Ga_1-xAl_xAs MQW is not the result of the intrinsic scattering rate but related to its shorter lifetime, compared to GaAs modes.     

Magnetoreflectance and luminescense study of beryllium acceptors in selectively doped GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs multiple quantum wells

We present a magneto-optical study of p-type GaAs/Al_xGa_1−xAs quantum wells doped with Be acceptors over the central one-third of the GaAs layers. Using magneto-reflectance and magneto-luminescence spectroscopies, we have investigated (a) interband Landau transitions and (b) transitions from the conduction band Landau levels to the Be acceptors. Binding energies of the acceptors were determined and the dependence of the impurity ground state energy on magnetic field has been studied.     

Influence of exciton energy on intersubband transition of chirped superlattice GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser

The influence of exciton energy on intersubband transition was simulated for a chirped supperlattice quantum cascade laser of GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs. Exciton energy was modelled as a function of QW width for alloys of various percentages of constituent elements. The results showed that the exciton energy decreased proportionally with increasing QW width. Models were also generated to study exciton energy as a function of the percent alloy contents of Al_xGa_1-xAs barriers for QWs of various widths. Exciton energy showed characteristics of higher discrete energy when QW width was narrower. Transition energy was also simulated from e₁ and e₂ to the 1s exciton state as functions of applied electric field at various QW widths. Our simulation results showed that the transition energy from e₂ to the 1s exciton state increased proportionally to the increasing strength of the electric field. This transition energy was indicative of THz range radiation.     

Anisotropic Spin Splitting in Step Quantum Wells

By the method of finite difference, the anisotropic spin splitting of the AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs/Aly Ga1-yAs/AlxGal-xAs step quantum wells （QWs） are theoretically investigated considering the interplay of the bulk inversion asymmetry and structure inversion asymmetry induced by step quantum well structure and external electric field. We demonstrate that the anisotropy of the total spin splitting can be controlled by the shape of the QWs and the external electric field. The interface related Rashba effect plays an important effect on the anisotropic spin splitting by influencing the magnitude of the spin splitting and the direction of electron spin. The Rashba spin splitting presents in the step quantum wells due to the interface related Rashba effect even without external electric field or magnetic field.     

Effects of applied magnetic field on the infrared transitions between hydrogenic states in a corrugated quantum well

The magnetic field induced transition energies between the ground and excited states of a donor impurity in a Ga_1-xAl_xAs /Ga_1-yAl_yAs corrugated quantum well is reported. The calculations are performed by the variational method based on a two-parametric trial wave function, in the framework of the single band effective mass approximation. The effect of nonparabolicity of the conduction band is considered through the energy dependent effective mass. The effect of magnetic field on the spin-orbit interaction on the electron magnetization and the magnetic susceptibility is discussed. The diamagnetic susceptibility using Hellmann-Feynman theorem is calculated for the ground and excited states of the donor. The transition lines lie in the optical range for a strong magnetic field. The results are compared with the other existing available literature.     

Subband transitions in AlxGa1−xN /GaN/ AlxGa1−xN and AlxGa1−xN /InN/ AlxGa1−xN single quantum wells

We have calculated the spectral regime of subband transitions in Al_xGa_1−xN/GaN and Al_xGa_1−xN/InN single quantum wells. We used a simplified model to account for the internal electric fields, which modify the shape of the quantum well. Some of the parameters for these materials have not yet been firmly established. Therefore, we carried out the analysis for the extremes of the reported values of conduction band discontinuities and band gaps (in the case of InN). This analysis shows that the spectral regime of interband transitions for 1–4 nm thick wells has wavelengths above 0.5 μm for AlGaN/InN and above 0.8 μm for AlGaN/GaN and both heterostructures cover several μm wavelengths. The spectral variation with alloy composition is less pronounced in the Al_xGa_1−xN/InN single quantum wells due to the higher electric field present across the InN quantum well as compared to GaN. The results of these calculations are in good agreement with more rigorous theoretical approaches and available experimental values for Al_xGa_1−xN/GaN.     

Peak response wavelengths of p- and n-type InxGa1-xAs-InP quantum well infrared photodetectors

p- and n-type In_xGa_1-xAs-InP quantum wells are suitable for multi-color infrared photodetector applications in atmospheric windows due to improved barrier quality and carrier-transport properties. We apply the k ·p method to study the energy band structures and optical transition properties, which show that the peak response wavelengths of p- and n-type In_xGa_1-xAs-InP quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) are determined not only by the energy distance from the ground sublevels in the quantum well to the energy band edges of extended states, but also by the characteristics of the extended states. The optical phonon scattering process converts the broad absorption spectrum of the p-QWIP from 0 to 16 m into a short-wavelength spectrum centered at 4.5 m. The transport of electrons in the extended states of the n-QWIP is characterized by running wave boundary conditions, resulting in a theoretically optimal absorption rate by a 8-nm-thick In_0.53Ga_0.47As quantum well. Moreover, a conduction-band offset of 0.5 for an In_xGa_1-xAs-InP (x=0.53) heterostructure gives the best data fitting of theoretical and experimental response peaks, whereas 0.55 is generally recommended in the literature. PACS 73.21.-b; 73.63.Hs; 78.67.-n     

Band edge offsets in strained (InGa)As-(AlGa)As heterostructures

The excitonic transitions between the ground electron and hole quantum well sublevels in strained In_xGa_1-xAs-Al_yGa_1-yAs multiple quantum well structures (x = 0.12−0.35 and y = 0.2−0.35) have been investigated by means of photoluminescence and photoconductivity measurements. The molecular beam epitaxy grown structures contained an Al_yGa_1-yAs matrix with one unstrained GaAs and three strained In_xGa_1-xAs quantum wells one of which was in the GaAs cladding layers. The ratio of the conduction band edhe line up to the band gap offset for the strained In_xGa_1-xAs-unstrained Al_yGa_1-yAs interface has been found to be 0.67 ± 0.08 for the studied regions of x and y.     

Enlarged wells as probes to study superlattices

Within GaAs/Ga_1?xAl_x As MBE grown superlattices (SL), a few GaAs wells have been purposely enlarged. Calculations show that enlarged wells introduce localized states in the SL band gap: the distance between such a localized state and the bottom of the SL conduction band (or the top of the SL valence band) depends on the SL period and the enlarged well size. Luminescence and photoluminescence excitation results obtained on samples with different periods and enlarged well sizes are in good agreement with calculations.Once characterized, enlarged wells serve as probes in the study of SL optical and electrical properties. As examples, they were used to observe one monolayer size fluctuations and vertical transport by luminescence in GaAs/Ga_1?xAl_xAs superlattices.     

Energy levels of single nonabrupt GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells

Energy levels of electrons in nonabrupt GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs single quantum wells are calculated with and beyond the constant interfacial effective mass approximation (CIEMA), and compared with those of abrupt GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs quantum wells. For a given interface width, the energy levels calculated with the CIEMA are higher than those calculated beyond it, but both are higher than those of the abrupt semiconductor quantum well. The shifts of the energy levels increase with the interfacial width of the nonabrupt quantum well, as well as with the degree of interfacial asymmetry.     

An alternative approach to exciton binding energy in a GaAs-AlxGa1-x as quantum well

A variational-perturbative method is used to calculate the binding energy of an exciton in quantum well structure of Al_xGa_1-xAs-GaAs-Al_xGa_1-xAs. The fitness of potential well heights and differences of electron or hole effective mass in barrier region are both taken into considerations. The binding energies as a function of GaAs well sizes and as a function of alloy compositions, and a photon energy emitted in the recombination of an exciton, are presented. Validity of the calculation is discussed.     

量子阱中的电子关联

运用Bohm-Pines理论，提出了二维及准二维电子气的普适关联因子，并由关联基函数（CBF）方法，求解得Al_xGa_1-xAs-GaAs量子阱的关联函数、交换能和关联能 关键词：     

Binding energies of helium-like impurities in parabolic quantum wells under an applied electric field

We present a variational method to compute the binding energies of helium-like impurities in finite parabolic GaAs- Ga_1 − xAl_xAs quantum wells. The effects of band nonparabolicity in the conduction band are taken into account within the effective mass approximation. The dependence of the impurity binding energy on the applied electric field and the impurity position is also discussed together with the polarization effect for all cases.     

New mechanism of surface polariton resonance at an isolated interface between transparent dielectric media (non-Tamm quasistationary surface polariton states)

A system of quantum dots on the basis of Al_xIn_1-xAs/Al_yGa_1-y As solid solutions has been studied. The usage of broadband Al_xIn_1-x solid solutions as the basis of quantum dots makes it possible to expand considerably the spectral emission range into the short-wave region, including the wavelength region near 770 nm being of interest for the design of aerospace systems of quantum cryptography. The optical characteristics of single Al_xIn_1-xAs quantum dots grown according to the Stranski–Krastanov mechanism are studied by the cryogenic microphotoluminescence method. The fine structure of exciton states of quantum dots is studied in the wavelength region near 770 nm. It is shown that the splitting of exciton states is comparable with the natural width of exciton lines, which is of great interest for the design of emitters of pairs of entangled photons on the basis of Al_xAs_1-x quantum dots.     

Spin-orbit interaction in coupled quantum wells

We theoretically investigate the spin-orbit interaction in GaAs/AlxGa1 x As coupled quantum wells. We consider the contribution of the interface-related Rashba term as well as the linear and cubic Dresselhaus terms to the spin splitting. For the coupled quantum wells which bear an inherent structure inversion asymmetry, the same probability density distribution of electrons in the two step quantum wells results in a large spin splitting from the interface term. If the widths of the two step quantum wells are different, the electron probability density in the wider step quantum well is considerably higher than that in the narrower one, resulting in the decrease of the spin splitting from the interface term. The results also show that the spin splitting of the coupled quantum well is not significantly larger than that of a step quantum well.     

Picosecond luminescence of AlxGa1-xAs and GaAs double quantum well structures under high pressure

Abstract

The time-resolved luminescence of an electron-hole plasma in Al_0.36Ga_0.64As was studied as a function of pressure. Application of hydrostatic pressure varies the energy separation between the conduction band minima at Г and X. The dependence of the intensity ratio of the zero-phonon line and the two phonon replicas on this energy separation shows that scattering from X to Г by alloy disorder is as effective as scattering by phonons. We have further studied the tunneling of electrons between two GaAs quantum wells (QW) of different thicknesses through an Al_0.35Ga_0.65As barrier. The lifetime of electrons in the narrow QW, which is limitd by electron tunneling into the wider QW, stays constant from 0 to 2.4 GPa, where it drops within 0.1 GPa from 140 ps to less than 7 ps. At this pressure the X-point energy of the barrier coincides with the electron level in the wider QW. We infer that tunneling occurs only via the Г states in the barrier and that X states become effective only when real-state transfer is possible.     

Exciton quantization in parabolic quantum wells

The exciton wavefunction in parabolic quantum wells is calculated using variational techniques and effective mass theory. The influences of the potential shape and of confinement on the exciton binding energies are studied. The results are in good agreement with previous calculations. The oscillator-strength of excitons in GaAs/Ga_1-xAl_xAS quantum wells has a maximum value very close to the cross-over from three to two dimensions.     

高组份Al值的AlxGa1-x As和AlxGa1-x As/GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs多层结构的MOCVD生长

用自制常压MOCVD系统,在半绝缘GaAs衬底上生长高Al组份Al_xGa_1-xAs（其x值达0.83）,和Al_xGa_1-xAs/GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs/GaAs多层结构,表面镜面光亮。生长层厚度从几十到十几μm可控,测试表明外延层晶格结构完整,x值调节范围宽,非有意掺杂低,高纯GaAs外延层载流子浓度n_300K=1.7×10¹⁵cm^-3,n_77K=1.4×10¹⁵cm^-3,迁移率μ_300K=5900cmcm²/V.S,μ_77K=55500cm²/V.S。用电子探针,俄歇能谱仪测不出非有意掺杂的杂质,各层间界面清晰平直。 对GaAs,AlGaAs生长层表面缺陷,衬底偏角生长温度及其它生长条件也进行了初步探讨。     

Spacer layer thickness fluctuation scattering in a modulation-doped AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum well

We theoretically study the influence of spacer layer thickness fluctuation（SLTF） on the mobility of a twodimensional electron gas（2DEG） in the modulation-doped Al x Ga 1 x As/GaAs/Al x Ga 1 x As quantum well.The dependence of the mobility limited by SLTF scattering on spacer layer thickness and donor density are obtained.The results show that SLTF scattering is an important scattering mechanism for the quantum well structure with a thick well layer.     

稳定的GaAs (2 5 1 1)高密勒指数表面的电子结构

采用格林函数方法对具有稳定结构的GaAs(2 5 11)(1×1)表面的电子结构特性进行了计算. 结果表明：对于理想的GaAs(2 5 11)表面，基本带隙内的表面态主要处在三个能量区域，即 -0.1—0.1eV，085—10eV和1.4—1.6eV之间；吸附两个As原子形成(1×1)再构后，表面态的变化主要表现在0.85—1.0eV之间的表面态完全消失.结合电子数目规则，可以确定处在 - 0.1—0.1eV之间的表面态为全部填满的阴离子悬挂键态或再构引起的As As二聚体键的表 面态，而处在1.4— 关键词： 高密勒指数表面 电子结构 电子数目规则