Exciton Beats in GaAs Quantum Wells: Bosonic Representation and Collective Effects

TL;DR

This paper models light-heavy hole beats in GaAs quantum wells using a bosonic coherent state approach, providing a classical interference interpretation and explaining experimental observations related to exciton dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a bosonic coherent state model to describe exciton beats, offering a new perspective compared to traditional few-level systems.

Findings

Boson model accurately describes photon excitation of extended states.

Explains classical interference in exciton beats.

Aligns with experimental results on coherent control and Rayleigh scattering.

Abstract

We discuss light-heavy hole beats observed in transient optical experiments in GaAs quantum wells in terms of a free-boson coherent state model. This approach is compared with descriptions based on few-level representations. Results lead to an interpretation of the beats as due to classical electromagnetic interference. The boson picture correctly describes photon excitation of extended states and accounts for experiments involving coherent control of the exciton density and Rayleigh scattering beating.