Quantum heterostructure
Quantum heterostructure is a heterostructure in a substrate (usually a semiconductor material), where size restricts the movements of the charge carriers forcing them into a quantum confinement. This leads to the formation of a set of discrete energy levels at which the carriers can exist. Quantum heterostructures have sharper density of states than structures of more conventional sizes.
![](../I/m/Electron_probabilities_in_GaAs_quantum_well.png)
Electron probabilities in lowest two quantum states of a 160วบ GaAs quantum well in a GaAs-GaAlAs heterostructure as calculated from envelope functions.[1]
Quantum heterostructures are important for fabrication of short-wavelength light-emitting diodes and diode lasers, and for other optoelectronic applications, e.g. high-efficiency photovoltaic cells.
Examples of quantum heterostructures confining the carriers in quasi-two, -one and -zero dimensions are:
References
- G Bastard; JA Brum; R Ferreira (1991). "Figure 10 in Electronic States in Semiconductor Heterostructures". In Henry Ehrenreich, David Turnbull (ed.). Solid state physics: Semiconductor Heterostructures and Nanostructures. p. 259. ISBN 0126077444.
See also
- http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/~schubert/Light-Emitting-Diodes-dot-org/chap04/chap04.htm
- Kitaev's periodic table
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