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Hot-phonon generation in GaAs/Al[sub [ital x]]Ga[sub 1[minus][ital x]]As superlattices: Observations and implications on the coherence length of LO phonons

Journal Article · · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States)
; ; ;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3];  [4]
  1. Department of Physics and Center for Laser Research, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078 (United States)
  2. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
  3. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093 (United States)
  4. Coordinated Science Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801 (United States)

Using picosecond Raman scattering, hot-phonon occupation numbers ([ital N]) of GaAs and GaAs-like LO phonons have been studied over a wide range of structural parameters in more than 30 GaAs/Al[sub [ital x]]Ga[sub 1[minus][ital x]]As superlattices. In addition, simultaneous measurements of these LO phonon modes in bulk GaAs and Al[sub [ital x]]Ga[sub 1[minus][ital x]]As alloys are made for comparison. [ital N] values of both GaAs and GaAs-like modes of the superlattices are comparable to or larger than those of bulk GaAs or Al[sub [ital x]]Ga[sub 1[minus][ital x]]As alloys for [ital x][lt]0.2. On the other hand, [ital N] values of GaAs or GaAs-like LO phonons are much smaller for [ital x][gt]0.35, unless the barrier widths are very thin ([lt]15 A). The implications of our results on spatial properties of LO phonons are discussed and compared with relevant theoretical and experimental studies.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
6869898
Journal Information:
Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (United States) Vol. 51:8; ISSN PRBMDO; ISSN 0163-1829
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English