Size dependence of biexciton binding energy in single InAs/GaAs quantum dots

This paper studies the size dependence of biexciton binding energy in single quantum dots (QDs) by using atomic force microscopy and micro-photoluminescence measurements. It finds that the biexciton binding energies in the QDs show "binding" and "antibinding" properties which correspond to the large and small sizes of QDs, respectively. The experimental results can be well interpreted by the biexciton potential curve, calculated from the exciton molecular model and the Heitler-London method.

Binding Energy and Spin-Orbit Splitting of a Hydrogenic Donor Impurity in AlGaN/GaN Triangle-Shaped Potential Quantum Well

In the framework of effective-mass envelope function theory, including the effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling, the binding energy E-b and spin-orbit split energy Gamma of the ground state of a hydrogenic donor impurity in AlGaN/GaN triangle-shaped potential heterointerface are calculated. We find that with the electric field of the heterojunction increasing, (1) the effective width of quantum well (W) over bar decreases and (2) the binding energy increases monotonously, and in the mean time, (3) the spin-orbit split energy Gamma decreases drastically. (4) The maximum of Gamma is 1.22 meV when the electric field of heterointerface is 1 MV/cm.

Binding energy of a hydrogenic donor impurity in a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped quantum dot: Quantum confinement and Stark effects

We calculate the binding energy of a hydrogenic donor impurity in a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped quantum dot (QD) in the framework of effective-mass envelope-function theory using the plane wave basis. The variation of the binding energy with edge length, position of the impurity, and external electric field is studied in detail. A finite potential model is adopted in our calculations. Compared with the infinite potential model [C. I. Mendoza , Phys. Rev. B 71, 075330 (2005)], the following results are found: (1) if the impurity is located in the interior of the QD, our results give a smaller binding energy than the infinite potential model; (2) the binding energies are more sensitively dependent on the applied electric field in the finite potential model; (3) the infinite potential model cannot give correct results for a small QD edge length for any location of the impurity in the QD; (4) some degeneracy is lifted when the dot is no longer cubic. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Electronic structure and binding energy of a hydrogenic impurity in a hierarchically self-assembled GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum dot

We calculate the electronic structures and binding energy of a hydrogenic impurity in a hierarchically self-assembled GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum dot (QD) in the framework of effective-mass envelope-function theory. The variation of the electronic structures and binding energy with the QD structure parameters and the position of the impurity are studied in detail. We find that (1) acceptor impurity energy levels depend more sensitively on the size of the QD than those of a donor impurity; (2) all impurity energy levels strongly depend on the GaAs quantum well (QW) width; (3) a donor impurity in the QD has only one binding energy level except when the GaAs QW is large; (4) an acceptor impurity in the QD has two binding energy levels, which correspond to heavy- and light-hole quantum states; (5) the binding energy has a maximum value when the impurity is located below the symmetry axis along the growth direction; and (6) the binding energy has a minimum value when the impurity is located at the top corner of the QD. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Binding energy of positively and negatively charged excitons in GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells

Using a simple two-parameter wavefunction, we calculate variationally the binding energy of positively and negatively charged excitons in GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells for well widths from 10 to 300Angstrom. We consider the effect of effective mass, dielectric constant mismatch in the two materials, and the whole correlation among the particles. The results are discussed and compared in detail with previous experimental and theoretical results, which show fair agreement with them.

Energy band and acceptor binding energy of GaN and AlxGa1-xN

The hole effective-mass Hamiltonian for the semiconductors of wurtzite structure is established, and the effective-mass parameters of GaN and AlxGa1-xN are given. Besides the asymmetry in the z and x, y directions, the linear term of the momentum operator in the Hamiltonian is essential in determining the valence band structure, which is different from that of the zinc-blende structure. The binding energies of acceptor states are calculated by solving strictly the effective-mass equations. The binding energies of donor and acceptor for wurtzite GaN are 20 and 131, 97 meV, respectively, which are inconsistent with the recent experimental results. It is proposed that there are two kinds of acceptors in wurtzite GaN. One kind is the general acceptor such as C, substituting N, which satisfies the effective-mass theory, and the other includes Mg, Zn, Cd etc., the binding energy of which deviates from that given by the effective-mass theory. Experimentally, wurtzite GaN was grown by the MBE method, and the PL spectra were measured. Three main peaks are assigned to the DA transitions from the two kinds of acceptor. Some of the transitions were identified as coming from the cubic phase of GaN, which appears randomly within the predominantly hexagonal material. The binding energy of acceptor in ALN is about 239, 158 meV, that in AlxGa1-xN alloys (x approximate to 0.2) is 147, 111 meV, close to that in GaN. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Binding energy of ionized-donor-bound excitons in the GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells

The binding energy of an exciton bound to an ionized donor impurity (D+,X) located st the center or the edge in GaAs-AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells is calculated variationally for the well width from 10 to 300 Angstrom by using a two-parameter wave function, The theoretical results are discussed and compared with the previous experimental results.

Binding energy of excitons bound to neutral donors in two-dimensional semiconductors

The binding energies of excitons bound to neutral donors in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors within the spherical-effective-mass approximation, which are nondegenerate energy bands, have been calculated by a variational method for a relevant range of the effective electron-to-hole mass ratio sigma. The ratio of the binding energy of a 2D exciton bound to a neutral donor to that of a 2D neutral donor is found to be from 0.58 to 0.10. In the limit of vanishing sigma and large sigma, the results agree fairly well with previous experimental results. The results of this approach are compared with those of earlier theories.

Perpendicular-electric-field dependence of exciton binding energy studied by continuous-wave photoluminescence

The reduction of exciton binding energy induced by a perpendicular electric field in a stepped quantum well is studied. From continuous-wave photoluminescence spectra at 77 K we have observed an obvious blueshift of the exciton peak due to a spatially direct-to-indirect transition of excitons. A simple method is used to calculate the exciton binding energy while the inhomogeneous broadening is taken into account in a simple manner. The calculated result reproduces remarkably well the experimental observation.

DIRECT OBSERVATION FOR THE REDUCTION OF EXCITON BINDING-ENERGY INDUCED BY PERPENDICULAR ELECTRIC-FIELD

We experimentally study the effect of perpendicular electric field on the exciton binding energy using a specially designed step quantum well. From photoluminescence spectra at the temperature of 77 K, we have directly observed remarkable blueshift of the exciton peak due to the transition from spatially direct to spatially indirect excitons induced by electric field. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.

Binding Energy of Biexcitons in GaAs Quantum-Well Wires

The binding energy of a biexciton in GaAs quantum-well wires is calculated variationally by use of a two-parameter trial wavefunction and a one-dimensional equivalent potential model. There is no artificial parameter added in our calculation. Our results agree fairly well with the previous results. It is found that the binding energies are closely correlative to the size of wire. The binding energy of biexcitons is smaller than that of neutral bound excitons in GaAs quantum-well wires when the dopant is located at the centre of the wires.

Energy band and acceptor binding energy of GaN and AlxGa1-xN

The hole effective-mass Hamiltonian for the semiconductors of wurtzite structure is established, and the effective-mass parameters of GaN and AlxGa1-xN are given. Besides the asymmetry in the z and x, y directions, the linear term of the momentum operator in the Hamiltonian is essential in determining the valence band structure, which is different from that of the zinc-blende structure. The binding energies of acceptor states are calculated by solving strictly the effective-mass equations. The binding energies of donor and acceptor for wurtzite GaN are 20 and 131, 97 meV, respectively, which are inconsistent with the recent experimental results. It is proposed that there are two kinds of acceptors in wurtzite GaN. One kind is the general acceptor such as C, substituting N, which satisfies the effective-mass theory, and the other includes Mg, Zn, Cd etc., the binding energy of which deviates from that given by the effective-mass theory. Experimentally, wurtzite GaN was grown by the MBE method, and the PL spectra were measured. Three main peaks are assigned to the DA transitions from the two kinds of acceptor. Some of the transitions were identified as coming from the cubic phase of GaN, which appears randomly within the predominantly hexagonal material. The binding energy of acceptor in ALN is about 239, 158 meV, that in AlxGa1-xN alloys (x approximate to 0.2) is 147, 111 meV, close to that in GaN. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Diffusion and single molecule dynamics on biomolecular interface binding energy landscape

We propose a new approach to study the diffusion dynamics on biomolecular interface binding energy landscape. The resulting mean first passage time (MFPT) has 'U'curve dependence on the temperature. It is shown that the large specificity ratio of gap to roughness of the underlying binding energy landscape not only guarantees the thermodynamic stability and the specificity [P.A. Rejto, G.M. Verkhivker, in: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93 (1996) 8945; C.J. Tsai, S. Kumar, B. Ma, R. Nussinov, Protein Sci. 8 (1999) 1181; G.A. Papoian, P.G. Wolynes, Biopolymers 68 (2003) 333; J. Wang, G.M. Verkhivker, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 198101] but also the kinetic accessibility. The complex kinetics and the associated fluctuations reflecting the structures of the binding energy landscape emerge upon temperature changes. The theory suggests a way of connecting the models/simulations with single molecule experiments by analysing the kinetic trajectories.