| Abstract: | Electrons photo-excited to high-energy conduction band states of GaAs exhibit complex energy and momentum distributions determined by the anisotropic valence band structure and the optical matrix elements. In p-type GaAs a fraction of these hot electrons combine with localised acceptor states, producing a hot electron luminescence (HEL) spectrum with a cascade of peaks corresponding to discrete energy losses resulting from LO-phonon emission. The highest peak involves unscattered electrons, and their energy distribution is due to warping of the initial heavy-hole (HH) bands. We report measurements of the line shape of this 0-HH peak, and its polarisation profile which identifies emission from electrons along particular directions. An applied electric field of 1 kV cm−1 distorts the hot electron momentum distribution, and this is reflected in the polarisation profile. These line shapes and profiles, with and without field, are calculated using a computer model incorporating a band structure and optical matrix elements, the effect of electric field being included using a k-broadening model. The data and model are in good quantitative agreement assuming an electron lifetime of 100 fs, and confirm the expected differences in the profiles for different excitation polarisation states and applied field directions. |
