Active conductivity of plane two-barrier resonance tunnel structure as operating element of quantum cascade laser or detector

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical model for the active conductivity of a plane two-barrier resonance tunnel structure, demonstrating its potential as an element in quantum cascade lasers or detectors, with optimal operation at specific quantum transitions.

Contribution

A new theoretical framework for spectral parameters and active conductivity of two-barrier resonance tunnel structures is presented, highlighting their application in quantum cascade devices.

Findings

Optimal operation at quantum transitions between lowest quasi-stationary states.

Structure can serve as an active element in quantum cascade lasers or detectors.

Maximum conductivity achieved at minimal exciting current.

Abstract

Within the model of rectangular potentials and different effective masses of electrons in different elements of plane two-barrier resonance tunnel structure there is developed a theory of spectral parameters of quasi-stationary states and active conductivity for the case of mono-energetic electronic current interacting with electromagnetic field. It is shown that the two-barrier resonance tunnel structure can be utilized as a separate or active element of quantum cascade laser or detector. For the experimentally studied In$_{0.53}$Ga$_{0.47}$As/In$_{0.52}$Al$_{0.48}$As nano-system it is established that the two-barrier resonance tunnel structure, in detector and laser regimes, optimally operates (with the biggest conductivity at the smallest exciting current) at the quantum transitions between the lowest quasi-stationary states.