Intersubband scattering in n-GaAs/AlGaAs wide quantum wells

TL;DR

This paper investigates intersubband elastic scattering in a 75 nm wide n-GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well, revealing how high-intensity surface acoustic waves induce magnetooscillations and allowing measurement of tunneling splitting and scattering rates.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of intersubband scattering effects in wide quantum wells under acoustic wave excitation.

Findings

Magnetooscillations are caused by intersubband elastic scattering.

Tunneling splitting between subbands is measured.

Inter-subband scattering rate is determined.

Abstract

Slow magnetooscilations of the conductivity are observed in a 75 nm wide quantum well at heating of the two-dimensional electrons by a high-intensity surface acoustic wave. These magnetooscillations are caused by intersubband elastic scattering between the symmetric and asymmetric subbands formed due to an electrostatic barrier in the center of the quantum well. The tunneling splitting between these subbands as well as the intersubband scattering rate are determined.