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Nonlinear optical properties of type-II quantum wells

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)
; ;  [1]; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [2]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
  2. Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (USA)

Experimental and theoretical investigations of the near-band-gap optical nonlinearities in type-II GaAs/AlAs quantum wells are reported. The temporal evolution of the optical nonlinearities of different samples grown at our two different laboratories is analyzed by comparing femtosecond results at different pump-probe time delays with nanosecond measurements at different sample temperatures. The quasi-cw measurements at low temperatures show exciton bleaching and a pronounced heavy-hole exciton blueshift, which is absent at elevated plasma temperatures ({congruent}100 K). Femtosecond spectra show a delayed onset of the exciton blueshift consistent with hole-plasma cooling in the absence of electrons. The results are analyzed using many-body theory assuming complete electron-hole charge separation. We show that the presence of a one-component plasma modifies the nonlinear optical behavior of the GaAs layer and results in dramatically different properties compared to type-I quantum-well structures.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
5335598
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 44:7; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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