Photoluminescence decay times in (AlGa)As  GaAs multiple quantum well heterostructures

Measurements are reported of the photoluminescence decay rate from 55 Å GaAs(Al_0.35Ga_0.65)As multiple quantum well samples prepared by molecular beam epitaxy. Results are reported for the temperature range 4–295 K. Additional measurements of the external photoluminescence efficiency of single thin layers of (AlGa)As lead us to conclude that at the higher temperatures the lifetime in the quantum wells is limited by non-radiative recombination at or close to the (AlGa)As barriers. Following studies of the decay at 4 K we offer a possible alternative explanation of the free exciton decay mechanism to that postulated previously.