A study of GaInP/GaAs interfaces: metallurgical coupling of successive quantum wells

We present a study of GaInP/GaAs interfaces by means of photoluminescence (PL) of multi quantum wells (MQW), embedded in GaInP, or asymmetric structures having an AlGaAs barrier GaInP/GaAs/AlGaAs. The PL energies of quantum wells were compared with calculations based on the transfer matrix envelope function approximation, well suited for asymmetric structures. GaInP/GaAs/AlGaAs MQW structures (GaInP grown first) are in reasonably good agreement with calculations. Reverse ones, AlGaAs/GaAs/GaInP, present a lower PL energy than calculated. But the agreement with theory is recovered on single quantum well samples, or in MQW when the GaInP thickness is increased up to 100 nm. We interpret this phenomenon as a diffusion of arsenic atoms from the next GaAs well through the GaInP barrier. Arsenic atoms exchange with phosphorus atoms at the GaInP-on-GaAs interface of the former well, leading to a small gap strained InGaAs region responsible for the lowering of PL energies.     

Wavelength and polarization selective multi-band tunnelling quantum dot detectors

The reduction of the dark current without reducing the photocurrent is a considerable challenge in developing far-infrared (FIR)/terahertz detectors. Since quantum dot (QD) based detectors inherently show low dark current, a QD-based structure is an appropriate choice for terahertz detectors. The work reported here discusses multi-band tunnelling quantum dot infrared photo detector (T-QDIP) structures designed for high temperature operation covering the range from mid-to far-infrared. These structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy consist of a QD (InGaAs or InAlAs) placed in a well (GaAs/AlGaAs) with a double-barrier system (AlGaAs/InGaAs/AlGaAs) adjacent to it. The photocurrent, which can be selectively collected by resonant tunnelling, is generated by a transition of carriers from the ground state in the QD to a state in the well coupled with a state in the double-barrier system. The double-barrier system blocks the majority of carriers contributing to the dark current. Several important properties of T-QDIP detectors such as the multi-colour (multi-band) nature of the photoresponse, the selectivity of the operating wavelength by the applied bias, and the polarization sensitivity of the response peaks, are also discussed.     

快速热处理对应变InGaAs/GaAs单量子阱激光二极管电子发射和DX中心的影响

研究分子束外延(MBE)生长的应变In0.2Ga0.8AsGaAs折射率梯度变化异质结单量子阱激光二极管的快速热处理(RTA)效应.结果表明,RTA移除了InGaAsGaAs界面非辐射中心,提高77K光致发光效率和有源层电子发射.同时Al和Ga原子互扩散,也增加了AlGaAs波导层DX中心浓度.RTA处理后样品电流冲击老化实验证明DX中心浓度呈现出相应的增加.这表明DX中心可能是激光二极管性能退化的原因之一. 关键词： 量子阱 快速热处理 电子发射 DX中心     

Wigner function study of a double quantum barrier resonant tunnelling diode

Resonant tunnelling structures are receiving attention as a testbed for theoretical approaches to quantum transport. We present a Wigner function study of a double quantum barrier resonant tunnelling device formed by layers of AlGaAs in GaAs. Our study deals with the influence of the boundary conditions on the initial distribution as well as on the time-evolution of the system. We use a Gaussian wave packet to study the numerical effects of the boundaries. We attempt to solve the system in both the time-evolution and steady-state cases, including self-consistency in the potential.     

InGaAs(P)/InP MQW mixing by Zn diffusion,Ge and S implantation for optoelectronic applications

There is a growing interest in impurity-induced layer disordering for the technologically important InGaAs(P)/InP system. More complicated than in the AlGaAs/GaAs ternary system, which concerns only interdiffusion of group III atoms, interdiffusion in this quaternary system can occur for both group III (Ga,In) and group V (P,As) atoms, which may or may not result in a strain-free alloy lattice-matched to InP, a major concern for device applications. After a brief review on the thermal stability of InP/ InGaAs quantum well structures, we show that Zn diffusion at moderate temperature leads to intermixing on the group III sublattice, only, with subsequent lattice mismatch. On the other hand, either Ge or S implantation of InGaAs/InP quantum wells results in intermixing involving both the group III and the group V sublattice and approximating the lattice-matched condition.     

Influence of N cluster states on band dispersion in GaInNAs quantum wells

We use a modified band-anticrossing (BAC) model to investigate the band dispersion in a GaN_xAs_1-x/AlGaAs quantum well (QW) as a function of hydrostatic pressure. The band edge mass increases considerably more quickly with pressure than in the case of a GaAs/AlGaAs QW, and the subband separation also decreases significantly. We predict that the strong anticrossing interaction between the GaAs host conduction band and isolated N levels will inhibit tunnelling through the QW for a range of energy above the isolated N levels. The energy of N resonant states depends strongly on details of the local environment, giving a broader calculated distribution of N states in GaInNAs compared to GaNAs.     

Structural and optical properties of a catalyst-free GaAs/AlGaAs core–shell nano/microwire grown on (1 1 1)Si substrate

Heterostructure in the catalyst-free GaAs nanowire grown on the Si substrate was studied for the application of optical devices in the next generation. We fabricated AlGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well (QW) structure on the side facet of the catalyst-free GaAs nanowire grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The cathode luminescence (CL) measurement showed that the uniform GaAs quantum well was formed between AlGaAs shell layers. On the basis of this structure, we also grew the thick AlGaAs shell layers (∼700 nm) on GaAs nanowires, and observed whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonant in the thick AlGaAs hexagonal structure.     

Thermal interdiffusion in InGaAs/GaAs and GaAsSb/GaAs strained quantum wells as a function of doping density

We studied the thermal stability and interdiffusion of InGaAs/GaAs and GaAsSb/GaAs single quantum wells as a function of temperature for both Be and Si doping at various doping concentrations. The interdiffusion was monitored using the photoluminescence from the ground states of the valence- and conduction-band quantum wells. Using a Green's function method to solve the diffusion equation, assuming Fick's law behaviour, the evolution of the well shape during annealing was determined, and Schrödinger's equation was solved for this well shape to provide the ground-state energy levels of the system using the diffusion constant as the only fitting parameter. The validity of this model as applied to both systems is discussed.Strained Layer Structures Research Group.     

一种新型的高频半导体量子点单电子泵

除了直流负电压外,还在浅法刻蚀出的GaAs/AlGaAs量子线上的两个金属指形门上分别叠加两个相位相差π的正弦信号,从而对形成量子点的两个势垒作不等幅调制.在无源漏偏压的情况下,通过周期形成的量子点实现了单电子的搬运.由于新的半导体量子点单电子泵不是依赖库仑阻塞效应通过隧穿进行单电子输运,因此,该器件就不会受到固定隧穿时间引起的低工作频率限制.在1.7K温度下,频率达到3GHz仍然可以观测到量子化电流平台,对应的电流值达到0.5nA量级.这种新器件提供了实现高速度、高精度搬运单电子的另一种可能途径. 关键词： 单电子输运 单电子旋转门 单电子泵 量子化电流平台     

Transient grating studies of phase and spin relaxations of excitons in GaAs single quantum wells

Exciton spin and phase relaxations at low temperatures in GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum wells were investigated by using transient grating technique. The technique allows us to obtain the exciton lifetime, spin relaxation, and phase relaxation in the same setup. In combination with a series of single quantum wells grown on the same substrate, the well width dependence of exciton spin relaxation was studied. The obtained spin relaxation results were analyzed with their phase relaxation times in a framework of MAS mechanism, and were in good agreement with the calculated results. Especially, the motional narrowing character of the exciton spin relaxation was well demonstrated.     

Modelling of high-temperature dark current in multi-quantum well structures from MWIR to VLWIR

In this paper, a model to calculate the dark current of quantum well infrared photodetectors at high-temperature regime is presented. The model is derived from a positive-definite quantum probability-flux and considers thermionic emission and thermally-assisted tunnelling as mechanisms of dark current generation. Its main input data are the wave functions obtained by time-independent Schrodinger equation and it does not require empirical parameters related to the transport of carriers. By means of this model, the dark current of quantum well infrared photodetectors at high-temperature regime is investigated with respect to the temperature, the barrier width, the applied electric field and the position of the first excited state. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data obtained from lattice-matched InAlAs/InGaAs, InGaAsP/InP on InP substrate and AlGaAs/GaAs structures with rectangular wells and symmetric barriers, whose absorption peak wavelengths range from MWIR to VLWIR. The corresponding results are in a good agreement with experimental data at different temperatures and at a wide range of applied electric field.     

双量子阱中的子带光吸收

由于微制造技术的不断发展,如液相外延(LPE),气相外延(VPE),金属有机化学气相沉积(MOCVD)以及分子束外延技术(MBE)等先进的材料生长技术方法也日趋完善,从而使得各种低维半导体量子器件(如半导体、超晶格、量子阱、量子线和量子点等)制造日趋成熟。由于这些低维半导体量子器件具有很强的非线性光效应,而且随着材料、外形、尺寸等的不同,非线性光效应也有很大的差别,更由于其可能存在的广泛的应用前景,所以近年来,一直是人们研究的重点。近来,由于人们相信,利用GaAs／AlGaAs量子阱有可能制造出一些新型的光学仪器,如光开关、光限幅器、光调制器等,所以,对不同势形的GaAs／AlGaAs量子阱的非线性光学特性一直吸引着人们进行理论和实验的研究。而在最近几年,对双量子阱的研究也成为了人们的研究重点。通过密度矩阵和迭代的方法,得到双量子阱中的第一、第三阶子带光吸收表达式,我们将用一个典型的GaAs／AlGaAs双量子阱代入其中进行数值计算,并进行讨论。我们的计算结果显示,阱的光吸收峰不但与中间的势垒宽度有关,更与入射光强有关。     

GaAs quantum well structures investigation by local cathodoluminescence

The article shows the cathodoluminescence technique application to a quality analysis of a semiconductor multilayer heterostructures. Two structures with a GaAs quantum well embedded between the AlGaAs and GaInP barriers were investigated. The AlGaAs/GaAs/GaInP and GaInP/GaAs/AlGaAs structures were grown by MOCVD on a GaAs substrate. In this work we study the interface quality of quantum-dimensional GaAs layer by means of the local cathodoluminescence. Degradation and broadening of GaAs/GaInP interface occurring during the growth process of GaAs on GaInP layer was assumed to result in the formation of a layer with mixed composition at the interface. In addition, the presence of the layer prevented the formation of a quantum well in the GaAs layer. The transition layer was clearly observed by the cathodoluminescence. In the other case it was found that the growth of a structure with GaAs layer on top of AlGaAs produced a quantum well with a 10 nm thickness. The interface quality and layer thicknesses were also confirmed by the X-ray diffraction investigation of these structures.     

Effect of electron screening on the photoluminescence in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells

Magneto-photoluminescence of one-side-doped GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum well is measured. Dependence of the spectra on the well width revealed that the long range screening effect of two-dimensional electrons on a free hole plays an important role in the process of recombination.     

Ambipolar tunneling in near-surface quantum wells

We study the photoluminescence from a near-surface quantum well in the regime of ambipolar tunneling to the surface states. Under steady-state excitation an electric field develops self-consistently due to the condition of equal tunneling currents for electrons and holes. The field induces a Stark shift of the photoluminescence signal which compares well with experimental data from near-surface GaAs/AlGaAs single quantum wells.     

Study of post-growth annealing and Ga coverage effects in low-density GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots grown by modified droplet epitaxy

We present a detailed analysis of the Ga coverage and of the post-growth annealing effects on the optical properties of very-low-density self-assembled GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots grown by modified droplet epitaxy. Through theoretical calculation of the QD electronic states, including thermally activated Al–Ga interdiffusion processes, we were able to relate our spectroscopic observations to QD structural properties.     

半导体异质结构中的谷间电子转移效应

本文使用单带双谷理论研究了GaAs/AlGaAs异质结构中的谷间电子转移效应。计入每一异质结界面上的能带交错,谷间耦合和电场的贡献,导出了计算异质结构隧穿概率和隧道电流的公式。以GaAs/AlGaAs异质结构为例,算出不同结构、不同合金组分比及不同电压下的隧穿概率和隧道电流。讨论了异质结界面、势阱和势垒材料的能带结构以及外加电压对谷间电子转移效应的影响。算得的隧道电流同实验结果相符合,证实了这一理论在研究多能谷系统中的适用性。在此基础上进一步分析了这一谷间电子转移效应与熟知的Gunn效应间的区别,并讨论了它在半导体器件设计中的应用。 关键词：     

GaAs/AlGaAs量子点阵的制备及其荧光特性

采用电子束曝光和反应离子刻蚀的工艺,将GaAs/AlGaAs量子阱外延材料制成量子点阵,其光荧光谱显示出蓝移,并且蓝移量随着量子点直径尺寸的减少而增大。     

Dispersive Properties of tunnelling—induced transparency in an asymmetric double quantum well

We have investigated the dispersive properties of tunnelling-induced transparency in asymmetric double quantum well structures where two excited states are coupled by resonant tunnelling through a thin barrier in a three-level system of electronic subbands. The intersubband transitions exhibit high dispersion at zero absorption, which leads to the slow light velocity in this medium as compared with that in vacuum (c=3×10⁸). The group velocity in a specific GaAs/AlGaAs sample is calculated to be v_g=c/4.30. This structure can be used to compensate for the dispersion and energy loss in fibre optical communications.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance study of the nuclear spin dynamics in an AlAs quantum well

The nuclear spin dynamics in an asymmetrically doped 16-nm AlAs quantum well grown along the [001] direction has been studied experimentally using the time decay of the Overhauser shift of paramagnetic resonance of conduction electrons. The nonzero spin polarization of nuclei causing the initial observed Overhauser shift is due the relaxation of the nonequilibrium spin polarization of electrons into the nuclear subsystem near electron paramagnetic resonance owing to the hyperfine interaction. The measured relaxation time of nuclear spins near the unity filling factor is (530 ± 30) min at the temperature T = 0.5 K. This value exceeds the characteristic spin relaxation times of nuclei in GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures by more than an order of magnitude. This fact indicates the decrease in the strength of the hyperfine interaction in the AlAs quantum well in comparison with GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures.