Quantum wells, wires and dots with finite barrier: analytical expressions for the bound states

From a careful study of the transcendental equations fulfilled by the bound state energies of a free particle in a quantum well, cylindrical wire or spherical dot with finite potential barrier, we have derived analytical expressions of these energies which reproduce impressively well the numerical solutions of the corresponding transcendental equations for all confinement sizes and potential barriers, without any adjustable parameter. These expressions depend on a unique dimensionless parameter which contains the barrier height and the sphere, wire or well radius.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Remarks on supersymmetry of quantum systems with position-dependent effective masses

We apply the supersymmetry approach to one-dimensional quantum systems with spatially-dependent mass, by including their ordering ambiguities dependence. In this way we extend the results recently reported in the literature. Furthermore, we point out a connection between these systems and others with constant masses. This is done through convenient transformations in the coordinates and wavefunctions.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Dynamics of Electrons in Graded Semiconductors

I present a theory of electron dynamics in semiconductors with slowly varying composition. I show that the frequency-dependent conductivity, required for the description of transport and optical properties, can be obtained from a knowledge of the band structures and momentum matrix elements of homogeneous semiconductor alloys. New sum rules for the electronic oscillator strengths, which apply within a given energy band or between any two bands, are derived, and a general expression for the width of the intraband absorption peak is given. Finally, the low-frequency dynamics is discussed, and a correspondence with the semiclassical motion is established.Comment: 4 pages, Revte

Dirac and Klein-Gordon particles in one-dimensional periodic potentials

We evaluate the dispersion relation for massless fermions, described by the Dirac equation, and for zero-spin bosons, described by the Klein-Gordon equation, moving in two dimensions and in the presence of a one-dimensional periodic potential. For massless fermions the dispersion relation shows a zero gap for carriers with zero momentum in the direction parallel to the barriers in agreement with the well-known "Klein paradox". Numerical results for the energy spectrum and the density of states are presented. Those for fermions are appropriate to graphene in which carriers behave relativistically with the "light speed" replaced by the Fermi velocity. In addition, we evaluate the transmission through a finite number of barriers for fermions and zero-spin bosons and relate it with that through a superlattice.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure

Long-term high fat feeding of rats results in increased numbers of circulating microvesicles with pro-inflammatory effects on endothelial cells

Obesity and type 2 diabetes lead to dramatically increased risks of atherosclerosis and CHD. Multiple mechanisms converge to promote atherosclerosis by increasing endothelial oxidative stress and up-regulating expression of pro-inflammatory molecules. Microvesicles (MV) are small ( < 1 μm) circulating particles that transport proteins and genetic material, through which they are able to mediate cell–cell communication and influence gene expression. Since MV are increased in plasma of obese, insulin-resistant and diabetic individuals, who often exhibit chronic vascular inflammation, and long-term feeding of a high-fat diet (HFD) to rats is a well-described model of obesity and insulin resistance, we hypothesised that this may be a useful model to study the impact of MV on endothelial inflammation. The number and cellular origin of MV from HFD-fed obese rats were characterised by flow cytometry. Total MV were significantly increased after feeding HFD compared to feeding chow (P< 0·001), with significantly elevated numbers of MV derived from leucocyte, endothelial and platelet compartments (P< 0·01 for each cell type). MV were isolated from plasma and their ability to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 expression was measured in primary rat cardiac endothelial cells in vitro. MV from HFD-fed rats induced significant ROS (P< 0·001) and VCAM-1 expression (P= 0·0275), indicative of a pro-inflammatory MV phenotype in this model of obesity. These findings confirm that this is a useful model to further study the mechanisms by which diet can influence MV release and subsequent effects on cardio-metabolic health

Static polarizability of two-dimensional hole gases

We have calculated the density-density (Lindhard) response function of a homogeneous two-dimensional (2D) hole gas in the static (omega=0) limit. The bulk valence-band structure comprising heavy-hole (HH) and light-hole (LH) states is modeled using Luttinger's kdotp approach within the axial approximation. We elucidate how, in contrast to the case of conduction electrons, the Lindhard function of 2D holes exhibits unique features associated with (i) the confinement-induced HH-LH energy splitting and (ii) the HH-LH mixing arising from the charge carriers' in-plane motion. Implications for the dielectric response and related physical observables are discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, IOP latex style, v2: minor changes, to appear in NJ

Binding energy of shallow donors in a quantum well in the presence of a tilted magnetic field

We present results of variational calculations of the binding energy of a neutral donor in a quantum well in the presence of a magnetic field tilted relative to the QW plane. Assuming that the donor is located in the center of the QW, we perform calculations for parameters typical of a II-VI wide-gap semiconductor heterostructure, using as an example the case of a rectangular CdTe quantum well with CdMgTe barriers. We present the dependence of the binding energy of a neutral donor on the tilt angle and on the magnitude of the applied magnetic filed. As a key result, we show that measurement of the binding energy of a donor at two angles of the magnetic field with respect to the quantum well plane can be used to unambiguously determined the conduction band offset of the materials building up heterostructure.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Two-photon- photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy of single quantum-dots

We present experimental and theoretical study of single semiconductor quantum dots excited by two non-degenerate, resonantly tuned variably polarized lasers. The first laser is tuned to excitonic resonances. Depending on its polarization it photogenerates a coherent single exciton state. The second laser is tuned to biexciton resonances. By scanning the energy of the second laser for various polarizations of the two lasers, while monitoring the emission from the biexciton and exciton spectral lines, we map the biexciton photoluminescence excitation spectra. The resonances rich spectra of the second photon absorption are analyzed and fully understood in terms of a many carrier theoretical model which takes into account the direct and exchange Coulomb interactions between the quantum confined carriers.Comment: Accepted for publication in PR

Coherent electrical rotations of valley states in Si quantum dots using the phase of the valley-orbit coupling

A gate electric field has a small but non-negligible effect on the phase of the valley-orbit coupling in Si quantum dots. Finite interdot tunneling between valley eigenstates in a double quantum dot is enabled by a small difference in the phase of the valley-orbit coupling between the two dots, and it in turn allows controllable rotations of two-dot valley eigenstates at a level anticrossing. We present a comprehensive analytical discussion of this process, with estimates for realistic structures.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure