Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Band-gap renormalization in semiconductor quantum wells containing carriers

Journal Article · · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)
A theoretical calculation is presented of the so-called ''gap renormalization'' due to free carriers for the quasi-two-dimensional (2D) electrons or holes confined in a semiconductor quantum well. A general theory of the effect is developed assuming parabolic subbands, the Hubbard approximation (random-phase approximation) for the correlation energy, and a model potential containing the well thickness for the effective 2D Coulomb interaction. Results are presented for gap renormalization versus carrier density for GaAs wells of 81 and 217 A thickness. An experimental measurement of gap renormalization is presented which is based on an analysis of the excitation and luminescence spectra of a p-type modulation-doped Ga(Ga/sub 1-x/Al/sub x/)As multilayer sample of well width 107 A and hole density 5.3 x 10/sup 10/ cm/sup -2/. The calculated value is in excellent agreement with the experimental value (6.3 meV) in this case.
Research Organization:
ATandT Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974
OSTI ID:
5576361
Journal Information:
Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 32:4; ISSN PRBMD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English