Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical review. B, Condensed matter

Intersubband absorption saturation in multiple-quantum-well structures: The sheet model approach

Miroslaw Zaluzny, C. Nalewajko

Published Dec 17, 2003• 9 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a theoretical formalism, based on the transfer-matrix method and the so-called sheet model, describing light propagation in multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures in the range of the saturated intersubband absorption. A commonly used total internal reflection geometry is considered. Intensity of the reflected light as a function of the input intensity is calculated for two-level $\mathrm{GaAs}/{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}$ MQW. Numerical simulations show that the optical nonlinearity of the structures can be greatly modified by optical interference effects. In the case of sufficiently thick structures and grazing angle of incidence the multiple reflections inside the MQW can lead even to bistability.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.68.233305

Related papers

Optical phase shift induced by intersubband transitions in multiple quantum well structures

Miroslaw Zaluzny, C. Nalewajko

We discuss, theoretically, employing formalism based on the transfer matrix method and the so-called sheet model, the linear and nonlinear (saturated) optical phase shifts associated with intersubband transitions in multiple quantum well (MQW) structures. A commonly used total internal reflection geometry is considered. Numerical simulations are performed for two-level GaAs∕AlxGa1−xAs MQWs. They show that the above-mentioned phase shift can be greatly modified by optical interference effects and radiative coupling between QWs particularly at the grazing angle of incidence. For the restricted range of parameters even the bistable behavior of the nonlinear phase shift and reflectivity are possible.

Journal of Applied Physics•Jan 15, 2006•3 citations

Intrinsic optical intersubband bistability in quantum well structures: Role of multiple reflections

Victor Bondarenko, Miroslaw Zaluzny

We theoretically investigate the nonlinear intersubband response, in particular the intrinsic optical bistability (IOB), of quantum well (QW) structures embedded into layered systems. A semiclassical approach is employed based on the plane-wave approximation, the transfer-matrix formalism, the sheet model, and the density-matrix formalism developed to calculate the two-dimensional nonlinear intersubband electron conductivity and the IOB. A variety of presented numerical results demonstrate the importance of inhomogeneity of spatial distribution of radiation intensity induced by multiple radiation reflection for the IOB in layered structures. It is shown that knowing the radiation intensity distribution in the area occupied by QWs, in part standing-wave patterns, are crucial for understanding of IOB pictures. The IOB in systems of one, two, three, five, and ten QWs is investigated. The multistability phenomenon is addressed.

Physical Review B•Jan 8, 2015•6 citations

Calculation of Nonlinear Intersubband Optical Absorption in Asymmetric Quantum Wells

Peng Tan

In the past few years advance in nanofabrication techniques have made it possible to make well-like compound semiconductor structures of low nanometer size.In these structures,the state of the electron in the direction perpendicular to the length of the well is quantized with sufficiently large separation in energy levels and the motion of the electron parallel to the length is that of a quasi-free electron.One of the most remarkable properties of these one-dimensional electron system is that the optical transitions between the size-quantized subbands are feasible.The result shows there is a large optical nonlinearities in asymmetric quantum wells.The problem of optical saturation of intersubband absorption has recently attracted considerable attention.The problem is very important to the development of superlattice devices such as fast infrared detectors and(modulators) because one needs to know the range of input optical intensities for which linear operation is(possible.) The analytical expression of the linear and the third-order nonlinear optical intersubband absorption coefficients are obtained in Pschl-Teller wells using the density matrix formalism taking into account the(intrasubband) relaxation.Since there are two adjustable parameters κ and λ in Pschl-Teller wells,the shapes of the wells will change with the change of the parameters κ and λ,accordingly the linear and the third-order nonlinear optical absorption coefficients will change with the parameters κ and λ.It is shown that the optical absorption coefficient depends on the parameter,and the optical intensity strongly. The absorption saturation will occur with I increase.Numerical results are presented for a typical AlGaAs/GaAs Pschl-Teller well.

Chinese Journal of Luminescence•Jan 1, 2006•0 citations

Nonlinear Optical Absorption Caused By Interaction Between Interband - And Intraband-resonant Lights In Multiple Quantum Well Structure

Susumu Noda, Tetsuya Uemura, A. Sasaki

There is a great interest in nonlinear optical phenomena in multiple quantum well (MQW) structure. However, the investigation has been focused on either interband or intraband transition. If the interband and intraband transitions are utilized simultaneously, new application fields such as light-controlled optical modulation can be expected. (Fig.1) In this paper, we investigate theoretically the nonlinear optical absorption of interband-resonant light in n-doped MQW structure, which is caused by the simultaneous incidence of intraband-resonant light. Here we use the transition from bound to extended states as the intraband transition.

Digest on Nonlinear Optics: Materials, Phenomena and Devices•Jan 1, 1990•0 citations

Linear And Nonlinear Intersubband Optical Absorptions In Multiple Quantum Wells Under The External Fields

R. Özbakır

In this study, the effects of the external fields (electric and tilted magnetic fields) and well parameters on the optical absorption coefficients in GaAs/GaAlAs multiple (five) quantum wells under the applied electric and tilted magnetic fields has been investigated theoretically. Firstly, the energy eigenvalues and eigen functions of an electron confined in multiple quantum wells are calculated by analytically from Schrödinger equation using the transfer matrix method within the effective mass approximation, Secondly, the linear, nonlinear and total intersubband optical absorptions in GaAs/GaAlAs multiple quantum wells system are studied within the compact density-matrix approach. It is shown that the parameters such as strenghts of the external fields and θ-tilted angle values not only shift the peak positions in absorption spectrum but also considerably modify their potential heights. In generally, electronic and optical properties of the quantum wells are very sensitive to the applied external fields and well parameters. Therefore, we can conclude that the effect of the external fields can be used to tune and control the optical properties of interest in the range of the far-infrared electromagnetic spectrum.

Cumhuriyet Science Journal•Sep 30, 2019•1 citation

Intrinsic optical intersubband bistability and saturation in a quantum well microcavity structure

X. Chen

On the basis of a local-field theory, the field distribution including third-order nonlinearity in a quantum well microcavity structure is derived, and an expression of intersubband optical absorption is thus obtained. It is found that local-field corrections at certain condition can act as a positive feedback so that a bistability can be established. In a quantum well microcavity structure, by changing the length of the cavity, the angle of incidence, the field confinement and the line widths, one can effectively detune the local-field feedback so that the threshold intensity and the `S'-type loop of the optical bistability can be modified.

Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics•Aug 13, 1999•12 citations
We present a theoretical formalism, based on the transfer-matrix method and the so-called sheet model, describing light propagation in multiple-quantum-well (MQW) structures in the range of the saturated intersubband absorption. A commonly used total internal reflection geometry is considered. Intensity of the reflected light as a function of the input intensity is calculated for two-level GaAs/AlxGa1\ensuremath−xAs\mathrm{GaAs}/{\mathrm{Al}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{As}GaAs/Alx​Ga1\ensuremath−x​As MQW. Numerical simulations show that the optical nonlinearity of the structures can be greatly modified by optical interference effects. In the case of sufficiently thick structures and grazing angle of incidence the multiple reflections inside the MQW can lead even to bistability.
We discuss, theoretically, employing formalism based on the transfer matrix method and the so-called sheet model, the linear and nonlinear (saturated) optical phase shifts associated with intersubband transitions in multiple quantum well (MQW) structures. A commonly used total internal reflection geometry is considered. Numerical simulations are performed for two-level GaAs∕AlxGa1−xAs MQWs. They show that the above-mentioned phase shift can be greatly modified by optical interference effects and radiative coupling between QWs particularly at the grazing angle of incidence. For the restricted range of parameters even the bistable behavior of the nonlinear phase shift and reflectivity are possible.
We theoretically investigate the nonlinear intersubband response, in particular the intrinsic optical bistability (IOB), of quantum well (QW) structures embedded into layered systems. A semiclassical approach is employed based on the plane-wave approximation, the transfer-matrix formalism, the sheet model, and the density-matrix formalism developed to calculate the two-dimensional nonlinear intersubband electron conductivity and the IOB. A variety of presented numerical results demonstrate the importance of inhomogeneity of spatial distribution of radiation intensity induced by multiple radiation reflection for the IOB in layered structures. It is shown that knowing the radiation intensity distribution in the area occupied by QWs, in part standing-wave patterns, are crucial for understanding of IOB pictures. The IOB in systems of one, two, three, five, and ten QWs is investigated. The multistability phenomenon is addressed.
In the past few years advance in nanofabrication techniques have made it possible to make well-like compound semiconductor structures of low nanometer size.In these structures,the state of the electron in the direction perpendicular to the length of the well is quantized with sufficiently large separation in energy levels and the motion of the electron parallel to the length is that of a quasi-free electron.One of the most remarkable properties of these one-dimensional electron system is that the optical transitions between the size-quantized subbands are feasible.The result shows there is a large optical nonlinearities in asymmetric quantum wells.The problem of optical saturation of intersubband absorption has recently attracted considerable attention.The problem is very important to the development of superlattice devices such as fast infrared detectors and(modulators) because one needs to know the range of input optical intensities for which linear operation is(possible.) The analytical expression of the linear and the third-order nonlinear optical intersubband absorption coefficients are obtained in Pschl-Teller wells using the density matrix formalism taking into account the(intrasubband) relaxation.Since there are two adjustable parameters κ and λ in Pschl-Teller wells,the shapes of the wells will change with the change of the parameters κ and λ,accordingly the linear and the third-order nonlinear optical absorption coefficients will change with the parameters κ and λ.It is shown that the optical absorption coefficient depends on the parameter,and the optical intensity strongly. The absorption saturation will occur with I increase.Numerical results are presented for a typical AlGaAs/GaAs Pschl-Teller well.
There is a great interest in nonlinear optical phenomena in multiple quantum well (MQW) structure. However, the investigation has been focused on either interband or intraband transition. If the interband and intraband transitions are utilized simultaneously, new application fields such as light-controlled optical modulation can be expected. (Fig.1) In this paper, we investigate theoretically the nonlinear optical absorption of interband-resonant light in n-doped MQW structure, which is caused by the simultaneous incidence of intraband-resonant light. Here we use the transition from bound to extended states as the intraband transition.
In this study, the effects of the external fields (electric and tilted magnetic fields) and well parameters on the optical absorption coefficients in GaAs/GaAlAs multiple (five) quantum wells under the applied electric and tilted magnetic fields has been investigated theoretically. Firstly, the energy eigenvalues and eigen functions of an electron confined in multiple quantum wells are calculated by analytically from Schrödinger equation using the transfer matrix method within the effective mass approximation, Secondly, the linear, nonlinear and total intersubband optical absorptions in GaAs/GaAlAs multiple quantum wells system are studied within the compact density-matrix approach. It is shown that the parameters such as strenghts of the external fields and θ-tilted angle values not only shift the peak positions in absorption spectrum but also considerably modify their potential heights. In generally, electronic and optical properties of the quantum wells are very sensitive to the applied external fields and well parameters. Therefore, we can conclude that the effect of the external fields can be used to tune and control the optical properties of interest in the range of the far-infrared electromagnetic spectrum.
On the basis of a local-field theory, the field distribution including third-order nonlinearity in a quantum well microcavity structure is derived, and an expression of intersubband optical absorption is thus obtained. It is found that local-field corrections at certain condition can act as a positive feedback so that a bistability can be established. In a quantum well microcavity structure, by changing the length of the cavity, the angle of incidence, the field confinement and the line widths, one can effectively detune the local-field feedback so that the threshold intensity and the `S'-type loop of the optical bistability can be modified.