Nonlinear optical response of (111) growth axis strained-layer superlattices

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.574919· OSTI ID:6422371

Smith, D L; Mailhiot, C

The presence of internal strains in (111) growth axis strained-layer III--V superlattices leads to the generation of large polarization fields (exceeding 100 kV/cm) because the constituent semiconductors are piezoelectric. These strain-induced polarization fields produce a substantial reduction of the superlattice band gap and cause a spatial separation of the electrons and holes in the confining layers in such a way as to screen the internal fields. When free carriers are present to screen the strain-induced piezoelectric fields, the electronic structure (energy band gap, in-plane effective masses) and the optical response (absorption edge, optical constants) of the strained-layer superlattice depend on the density of free carriers. In the case where the electrons and holes are photogenerated, the superlattice photoabsorption profile can be modified by variations of the intensity of the optical excitation. The nonlinear optical response of strained-layer superlattices owing to free-carrier screening of strain-generated internal fields is illustrated here for the case of Ga/sub 1//sub --//sub x/In/sub x/As--Al/sub 1//sub --//sub y/In/sub y/As strained-layer superlattices.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
• OSTI ID: 6422371
• Journal Information: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN JVTAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
ALUMINIUM ARSENIDES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CHARGE CARRIERS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HOLES
INDIUM ARSENIDES
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PNICTIDES
POLARIZATION
RADIATION TRANSPORT
STRAINS
SUPERLATTICES