Theory of the photoacoustic effect of semiconductor quantum wells

We develop a theory of the photoacoustic effect of semiconductor quantum wells. Assuming a multilayer system of optically uniaxial media with dissipation we describe the generation of heat and the conduction of the heat through the system by a generalized transfer-matrix method. It is shown by applying this theory to a semiconductor quantum well that the photoacoustic signal is very sensitive on the quantum-size effect and the longitudinal and transverse relaxation times. Our theory predicts that photoacoustics should be a profitable method for the investigation of semiconductor micro- and nanostructures.