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.     

Exciton condensation in coupled quantum wells

Bound electron-hole pairs—excitons—are Bose particles with small mass. Exciton Bose-Einstein condensation is expected to occur at a few degrees Kelvin—a temperature many orders of magnitude higher than for atoms. Experimentally, an exciton temperature well below 1 K is achieved in coupled quantum well (CQW) semiconductor nanostructures. In this contribution, we review briefly experiments that signal exciton condensation in CQWs: a strong enhancement of the indirect exciton mobility consistent with the onset of exciton superfluidity, a strong enhancement of the radiative decay rate of the indirect excitons consistent with exciton condensate superradiance, strong fluctuations of the indirect exciton emission consistent with critical fluctuations near the phase transition, and a strong enhancement of the exciton scattering rate with increasing concentration of the indirect excitons revealing bosonic stimulation of exciton scattering. Novel experiments with exciton condensation in potential traps, pattern formation in exciton system and macroscopically ordered exciton state will also be reviewed briefly.     

Exciton-exciton interaction in coupled quantum wells

The exciton-exciton interaction is investigated for spatially indirect excitons in coupled quantum wells. The Hartree-Fock and Heitler-London approaches are improved by a full two-exciton calculation including the van der Waals effect. Using these potentials for the singlet and triplet channel, the two-body scattering matrix is calculated and employed to derive a modified relation between exciton density and blue shift. Such a relation is of central importance for gauging exciton densities on the way toward Bose condensation.     

Magnetotunneling absorption in double quantum wells

Tunneling absorption is calculated in weakly-coupled n-type asymmetric double quantum wells in an in-plane magnetic field using a linear response theory. Tunneling absorption of photons occurs between the ground sublevels of the quantum wells. We show that the absorption threshold, the resonance energy of absorption, and the linewidth depend sensitively on the magnetic field and the temperature.     

Propagation of electrons in coupled quantum wells

Summary We study propagation of an electron wave in a double-quantum-well structure formed by alternate layers of GaAlAs and GaAs. In such a structure, electron states parallel to the layers are described by 2D plane waves and in the perpendicular direction by the bound states of the confining potential. We show that an electron, initially introduced in one well, will execute oscillations between the two wells of the structure. Although the frequency of oscillations depends primarily on the distance separating the wells and the confining potential, it is shown in this paper that the frequency also depends on the effective mass of the electron, if it is different within and outside the well. Expressions are derived for the frequency of oscillations, taking into account the difference in the effective mass of the electron.     

Third-harmonic generation in asymmetric coupled quantum wells

The third-harmonic generation (THG) in asymmetric coupled quantum wells (ACQWs) for different values of the well parameter Δ$\Delta$ and width of barrier (_WB)$\left(W_B\right)$ are theoretically studied. The analytical expression of the third-harmonic generation is derived by using the compact density-matrix approach and the iterative method. Finally, the numerical calculations are presented for typical GaAs/Al_xGa_1−xAs asymmetric coupled quantum wells. Results obtained show that the third-harmonic generation in the asymmetric coupled quantum wells can be importantly modified by the parameter Δ$\Delta$ and _WB$W_B$. Moreover, third-harmonic generation also depends on the relaxation rate of the asymmetric coupled quantum wells.     

Mott transition of excitons in coupled quantum wells

In this work we study the phase diagram of indirect excitons in coupled quantum wells and show that the system undergoes a phase transition to an unbound electron-hole plasma. This transition is manifested as an abrupt change in the photoluminescence linewidth and peak energy at some critical power density and temperature. By measuring the exciton diamagnetism, we show that the transition is associated with an abrupt increase in the exciton radius. We find that the transition is stimulated by the presence of direct excitons in one of the wells and show that they serve as a catalyst of the transition.     

Nonlinear optical rectification in asymmetric coupled quantum wells

The optical rectification (OR) in the asymmetric coupled quantum wells (ACQWs) is calculated theoretically. The dependence of the OR on the width of the right-well and the barrier is studied. The analytical expression of the optical rectification coefficient is obtained by using the compact density-matrix approach and the iterative method, and the numerical calculations are presented for a typical GaAs/Al_xGa_1 − xAs ACQW. The results obtained show that the OR efficient can reach the magnitude of 10⁻⁴ m/V in this ACQW system, which is 1-2 orders higher than that in single quantum systems. Moreover, the OR coefficient is strongly dependent on the widths of the barrier and the right-well of the ACQWs. An appropriate choice for the width of the barrier and the right-well of the ACQWs can induce a larger OR coefficient.     

Spectrum of indirect magnetoexcitons in coupled quantum wells

The indirect Mott exciton (spatially-separated electron and hole) in coupled quantum wells in crossed electric and magnetic fields is discussed. The exciton spectrum is calculated for the case where the distance between the quantum wells of the electron and hole is larger than the exciton Bohr radius. The magnetoexciton creation probability is calculated and its dependence on the electric field is found. The absorption of electromagnetic radiation between the indirect magnetoexciton levels in coupled quantum wells is discussed. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 39, 2220–2223 (December 1997)     

Superfluidity of indirect magnetoexcitons in coupled quantum wells

The temperature T _c of the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition to a superfluid state for a system of magnetoexcitons with spatially separated electrons e and holes h in coupled quantum wells is obtained as a function of magnetic field H and interlayer separation D. It is found that T _c decreases as a function of H and D at fixed exciton density n _ex as a result of an increase in the exciton magnetic mass. The highest Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature as a function of H increases (at small D) on account of an increase in the maximum magnetoexciton density n _ex versus magnetic field, where n _ex is determined by a competition between the magnetoexciton energy and the sum of the activation energies of incompressible Laughlin fluids of electrons and holes. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 5, 332–337 (10 September 1997) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Coherent electron tunneling in triple coupled quantum wells

We present a numerical study of coherent electron tunneling in a triple coupled quantum well system. The evolution of the charge density is described in detail. In this heterostructure the electron will oscillate between the three wells, giving rise to a new type of oscillating luminescence signal. An experiment is proposed.     

Nonlinear intersubband optical absorption in semiparabolic quantum wells

The linear and third-order nonlinear optical absorptions in semiparabolic quantum wells are studied in detail. Analytic formulas for the linear and third-order nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are obtained using the compact density matrix approach. Based on this model, numerical results are presented for typical GaAs/AlGaAs semiparabolic quantum wells. The results show that the factors of the incident optical intensity and the semiparabolic confinement frequency have great influences on the total optical absorption coefficients.