Phenomenological theory of optical broadening in zero-dimensional systems applied to silicon nanocrystals

TL;DR

This paper presents a phenomenological theory explaining optical broadening effects in silicon nanocrystals, successfully accounting for experimental PL spectral features and their temperature dependence.

Contribution

It introduces a new phenomenological model for inhomogeneous broadening in zero-dimensional systems, specifically applied to silicon nanocrystals.

Findings

Explains PL peak asymmetry in silicon nanocrystals.

Accounts for linear dependence of peak width on its maximum.

Describes temperature-induced spectral changes.

Abstract

We develop a phenomenological theory of inhomogeneous broadening in zero-dimensional systems and apply it to study photoluminescence (PL) spectra of silicon nanocrystals measured at helium and room temperatures. The proposed approach allowed us to explain experimentally observed PL peak asymmetry, linear dependence of the peak width on its maximum and anomalous alteration of spectral characteristics with temperature increase.