Optimization of metamorphic InGaAs quantum wells on GaAs grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We investigate the molecular beam epitaxy growth of metamorphic InxGa(1-x)As materials (x up to 0.5) on GaAs substrates systematically. Optimization of structure design and growth parameters is aimed at obtaining smooth surface and high optical quality. The optimized structures have an average surface roughness of 0.9-1.8 nm. It is also proven by PL measurements that the optical properties of high indium content (55%) InGaAs quantum wells are improved apparently by defect reduction technique and by introducing Sb as a surfactant. These provide us new ways for growing device quality metamorphic structures on GaAs substrates with long-wavelength emissions.

Spin precession and electron spin polarization wave in [001]-grown quantum wells

We theoretically study the spatial behaviors of spin precessions modulated by an effective magnetic field in a two-dimensional electron system with spin-orbit interaction. Through analysis of interaction between the spin and the effective magnetic field, we find some laws of spin precession in the system, by which we explain some previous phenomena of spin precession, and predict a controllable electron spin polarization wave in [001]-grown quantum wells. The shape of the wave, like water wave, mostly are ellipse-like or circle-like, and the wavelength is anisotropic in the quantum wells with two unequal coupling strengths of the Rashba and Dresselhaus interactions, and is isotropic in the quantum wells with only one spin orbit interaction.

Spin states in InAs/AlSb/GaSb semiconductor quantum wells

We investigate theoretically the spin states in InAs/AlSb/GaSb broken-gap quantum wells by solving the Kane model and the Poisson equation self-consistently. The spin states in InAs/AlSb/GaSb quantum wells are quite different from those obtained by the single-band Rashba model due to the electron-hole hybridization. The Rashba spin splitting of the lowest conduction subband shows an oscillating behavior. The D'yakonov-Perel' spin-relaxation time shows several peaks with increasing the Fermi wave vector. By inserting an AlSb barrier between the InAs and GaSb layers, the hybridization can be greatly reduced. Consequently, the spin orientation, the spin splitting, and the D'yakonov-Perel' spin-relaxation time can be tuned significantly by changing the thickness of the AlSb barrier.

Electric Field Control of Interface Related Spin Splitting in Step Quantum Wells

Spin splitting of the AlyGa1-yAs/GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs/AlyGa1-yAs (x not equal y) step quantum wells (QWs) has been theoretically investigated with a model that includes both the interface and the external electric field contribution. The overall spin splitting is mainly determined by the interface contribution, which can be well manipulated by the external electric field. In the absence of the electric field, the Rashba effect exists due to the internal structure inversion asymmetry (SIA). The electric field can strengthen or suppress the internal SIA, resulting in an increase or decrease of the spin splitting. The step QW, which results in large spin splitting, has advantages in applications to spintronic devices compared with symmetrical and asymmetrical QWs. Due to the special structure design, the spin splitting does not change with the external electric field.

Well-width dependence of in-plane optical anisotropy in (001) GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells induced by in-plane uniaxial strain and interface asymmetry

The well-width dependence of in-plane optical anisotropy (IPOA) in (001) GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells induced by in-plane uniaxial strain and interface asymmetry has been studied comprehensively. Theoretical calculations show that the IPOA induced by in-plane uniaxial strain and interface asymmetry exhibits much different well-width dependence. The strain-induced IPOA is inversely proportional to the energy spacing between heavy- and light-hole subbands, so it increases with the well width. However, the interface-related IPOA is mainly determined by the probability that the heavy- and light-holes appear at the interfaces, so it decreases with the well width. Reflectance difference spectroscopy has been carried out to measure the IPOA of (001) GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs quantum wells with different well widths. Strain- and interface-induced IPOA have been distinguished by using a stress apparatus, and good agreement with the theoretical prediction is obtained. The anisotropic interface potential parameters are also determined. In addition, the energy shift between the interface- and strain-induced 1H1E reflectance difference (RD) structures, and the deviation of the 1L1E RD signal away from the prediction of the calculation model have been discussed.

Spin splitting of conduction subbands in Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs/AlxGa1-x As/Al0.3Ga0.7As step quantum wells

By means of the transfer matrix technique, interface-induced Rashba spin splitting of conduction subbands in Al0.3Ga0.7As/GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As step quantum wells which contain internal structure inversion asymmetry introduced by the insertion of AlxGa1-xAs step potential is investigated theoretically in the absence of electric field and magnetic field. The dependence of spin splitting on the well width, step width and Al concentration is investigated in detail. We find that the sign of the first excited subband spin splitting changes with well width and step width, and is opposite to that of the ground subband under certain conditions. The sign and strength of the spin splitting are shown to be sensitive to the components of the envelope function at three interfaces. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2009

Anisotropic Spin Splitting in Step Quantum Wells

By the method of finite difference, the anisotropic spin splitting of the AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs/AlyGa1-yAs/AlxGa1-xAs step quantum wells (QWs) are theoretically investigated considering the interplay of the bulk inversion asymmetry and structure inversion asymmetry induced by step quantum well structure and external electric field. We demonstrate that the anisotropy of the total spin splitting can be controlled by the shape of the QWs and the external electric field. The interface related Rashba effect plays an important effect on the anisotropic spin splitting by influencing the magnitude of the spin splitting and the direction of electron spin. The Rashba spin splitting presents in the step quantum wells due to the interface related Rashba effect even without external electric field or magnetic field.

Linear Rashba Model of a Hydrogenic Donor Impurity in GaAs/GaAlAs Quantum Wells

The Rashba spin-orbit splitting of a hydrogenic donor impurity in GaAs/GaAlAs quantum wells is investigated theoretically in the framework of effective-mass envelope function theory. The Rashba effect near the interface between GaAs and GaAlAs is assumed to be a linear relation with the distance from the quantum well side. We find that the splitting energy of the excited state is larger and less dependent on the position of the impurity than that of the ground state. Our results are useful for the application of Rashba spin-orbit coupling to photoelectric devices.

Spin-Polarized Localized Exciton Photoluminescence Dynamics in GaInNAs Quantum Wells

We have investigated spin polarization-related localized exciton photoluminescence (PL) dynamics in GaInNAs quantum wells by time-resolved PL spectroscopy. The emission energy dependence of PL polarization decay time as well as polarization-independent PL decay time suggests that the acoustic phonon scattering in the process of localized exciton transfer from the high-energy localized states to the low-energy ones dominates the PL polarization relaxation. By increasing the excitation power from 1 to 10 mW, the PL polarization decay time is changed from 0.17 to more than 1 ns, which indicates the significant effect of the trapping of localized electrons by nonradiative recombination centers. These experimental findings indicate that the spin-related PL polarization in diluted nitride semiconductors can be manipulated through carrier scattering and recombination process. (C) 2009 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Dyakonov-Perel spin relaxation in InSb/AlxIn(1-x)Sb quantum wells

We investigate theoretically the Dyakonov-Perel spin relaxation time by solving the eight-band Kane model and Poisson equation self-consistently. Our results show distinct behavior with the single-band model due to the anomalous spin-orbit interactions in narrow band-gap semiconductors, and agree well with the experiment values reported in recent experiment [K. L. Litvinenko et al., New J. Phys. 8, 49 (2006)]. We find a strong resonant enhancement of the spin relaxation time appears for spin align along [1 (1) over bar0] at a certain electron density at 4 K. This resonant peak is smeared out with increasing the temperature.

Time-Resolved Photoluminescence of Metamorphic InGaAs Quantum Wells

We investigate the temperature dependence of photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved PL on the metamorphic InGaAs quantum wells (QWs) with an emission wavelength of 1.55 mu m at room temperature. Time-resolved PL measurements reveal that the optical properties can be partly improved by introducing antimony (Sb) as a surfactant during the sample growth. The temperature dependence of the radiative lifetime is measured, showing that for QWs grown with Sb assistance, the intrinsic exciton emission is dominated when the temperature is below 60 K, while the nonradiative process becomes activated with further increases in temperature. However, without Sb assistance, the nonradiative centers are activated when the temperature is higher than 20 K.

High-indium-content InxGa1-xAs/GaAs quantum wells with emission wavelengths above 1.25 mu m at room temperature

High-indium-content InxGa1-xAs/GaAs single/multi-quantum well (SQW/MQW) structures have been systematically investigated. By optimizing the molecular-beam epitaxy growth conditions, the critical thickness of the strained In0.475Ga0.525As/GaAs QWs is raised to 7 nm, which is much higher than the value given by the Matthews and Blakeslee model. The good crystalline quality of the strained InGaAs/GaAs MQWs is proved by x-ray rocking curves. Photoluminescence measurements show that an emission wavelength of 1.25 mum at room temperatures with narrower full width at half maximum less than 30 meV can be obtained. The strain relaxation mechanism is discussed using the Matthews-Blakeslee model. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.

Effects of TMIn flow on the interface and optical properties of InGaN/GaN mutiple quantum wells

The effects of pre-TMIn flow prior to QW growth and TMIn flow rates during QW growth on the interface and optical properties of InGaN/GaN MQWs were investigated. Pre-depositing indium prior to QW growth and an appropriate TMIn flow rate can improve the interface abruptness and increase the EL intensity. InGaN/GaN MQWs with improved interface abruptness have increasing emission intensity and wavelength. We attribute the interface improvement and the increase of EL intensity to the improvement of the indium compositional profiles. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperature-induced switching-over of the luminescence transitions in GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells

Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the GaInNAs/GaAs single quantum well (SQW) with different N compositions are carefully studied in a range of temperatures and excitation power densities. The anomalous S-shape temperature dependence of the PL peak is analysed based on the competition and switching-over between the peaks related to N-induced localized states and the peak related to interband excitonic recombination. It is found that with increasing N composition, the localized energy increases and the turning point of the S-shape temperature dependence occurs at higher temperature, where the localized carriers in the bandtail states obtain enough thermal activation energy to be dissociated and delocalized. The rapid thermal annealing (RTA) effectively reduces the localized energy and causes a decrease of the switching-over temperature.

Suppression of exciton recombination in symmetric GaAs0.7Sb0.3/GaAs/GaAs0.7P0.3 coupled quantum wells induced by an in-plane magnetic field

Suppression of the exciton recombination in GaAs0.7Sb0.3/GaAs/GaAs0.7P0.3 coupled quantum well (CQW) induced by an external magnetic field is investigated theoretically. Unlike the usual electro-Stark effect, the exciton energy dispersion of an exciton is modified by an external in-plane magnetic field, the ground state of the magnetoexciton shifts from a zero in-plane center of mass (CM) momentum to a finite CM momentum, and the Lorentz force induces the spatial separation of electron and hole. Consequently, this effect renders the ground state of magnetoexciton stable against radiative recombination due to momentum conservation. This effect depends sensitively on the thickness and height of GaAs0.7Sb0.3 layer, therefore it could provide us useful infometion about the band alignment of CQW. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.