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Formation of electric-field domains in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lu, SL; Schrottke, L; Teitsworth, SW; Hey, R; Grahn, HT
Published in: Physical Review B
January 2006

The current-voltage (I-V ) characteristics of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-cascade laser structures (QCLSs) are found to exhibit current plateaus with discontinuities for voltages below threshold. The number of current discontinuities is correlated with the number of periods of the QCLS, suggesting the formation of electric-field domains that span the entire structure. A self-consistent calculation of the conduction band profile and corresponding electronic wave functions shows that the low-field domain is related to resonant tunneling between the ground state g in the active region and the lowest energy state in the adjacent, downstream injector i1. For x = 0.33 (x = 0.45), the high-field domain is formed for resonant tunneling between g and the first (second) excited state i2 (i3) in the injector region. A comparison of the experimental data with the calculated conduction band profile shows that a significant field inhomogeneity within each period shifts the voltage range, for which the resonance condition is fulfilled, to much lower voltages than expected for a homogeneous field distribution.

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Published In

Physical Review B

Publication Date

January 2006

Volume

73

Issue

033311

Start / End Page

4 pages
 

Citation

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Lu, S. L., Schrottke, L., Teitsworth, S. W., Hey, R., & Grahn, H. T. (2006). Formation of electric-field domains in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures. Physical Review B, 73(033311), 4pages.
Lu, S. L., L. Schrottke, S. W. Teitsworth, R. Hey, and H. T. Grahn. “Formation of electric-field domains in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures.” Physical Review B 73, no. 033311 (January 2006): 4pages.
Lu SL, Schrottke L, Teitsworth SW, Hey R, Grahn HT. Formation of electric-field domains in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures. Physical Review B. 2006 Jan;73(033311):4pages.
Lu, S. L., et al. “Formation of electric-field domains in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures.” Physical Review B, vol. 73, no. 033311, Jan. 2006, p. 4pages.
Lu SL, Schrottke L, Teitsworth SW, Hey R, Grahn HT. Formation of electric-field domains in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum cascade laser structures. Physical Review B. 2006 Jan;73(033311):4pages.

Published In

Physical Review B

Publication Date

January 2006

Volume

73

Issue

033311

Start / End Page

4 pages