2,179 research outputs found
Quadratic response theory for spin-orbit coupling in semiconductor heterostructures
This paper examines the properties of the self-energy operator in
lattice-matched semiconductor heterostructures, focusing on nonanalytic
behavior at small values of the crystal momentum, which gives rise to
long-range Coulomb potentials. A nonlinear response theory is developed for
nonlocal spin-dependent perturbing potentials. The ionic pseudopotential of the
heterostructure is treated as a perturbation of a bulk reference crystal, and
the self-energy is derived to second order in the perturbation. If spin-orbit
coupling is neglected outside the atomic cores, the problem can be analyzed as
if the perturbation were a local spin scalar, since the nonlocal spin-dependent
part of the pseudopotential merely renormalizes the results obtained from a
local perturbation. The spin-dependent terms in the self-energy therefore fall
into two classes: short-range potentials that are analytic in momentum space,
and long-range nonanalytic terms that arise from the screened Coulomb potential
multiplied by a spin-dependent vertex function. For an insulator at zero
temperature, it is shown that the electronic charge induced by a given
perturbation is exactly linearly proportional to the charge of the perturbing
potential. These results are used in a subsequent paper to develop a
first-principles effective-mass theory with generalized Rashba spin-orbit
coupling.Comment: 20 pages, no figures, RevTeX4; v2: final published versio
Ballistic Performance of Porous Ceramic Thermal Protection Systems at 9 km/s
Porous-ceramic, thermal-protection-systems are used heavily in current reentry vehicles like the Orbiter, and they are currently being proposed for the next generation of manned spacecraft, Orion. These materials insulate the structural components and sensitive electronic components of a spacecraft against the intense thermal environments of atmospheric reentry. Furthermore, these materials are also highly exposed to space environmental hazards like meteoroid and orbital debris impacts. This paper discusses recent impact testing up to 9 km/s on ceramic tiles similar to those used on the Orbiter. These tiles have a porous-batting of nominally 8 lb/cubic ft alumina-fiber-enhanced-thermal-barrier (AETB8) insulating material coated with a damage-resistant, toughened-unipiece-fibrous-insulation (TUFI) layer
First-principles envelope-function theory for lattice-matched semiconductor heterostructures
In this paper a multi-band envelope-function Hamiltonian for lattice-matched
semiconductor heterostructures is derived from first-principles norm-conserving
pseudopotentials. The theory is applicable to isovalent or heterovalent
heterostructures with macroscopically neutral interfaces and no spontaneous
bulk polarization. The key assumption -- proved in earlier numerical studies --
is that the heterostructure can be treated as a weak perturbation with respect
to some periodic reference crystal, with the nonlinear response small in
comparison to the linear response. Quadratic response theory is then used in
conjunction with k.p perturbation theory to develop a multi-band effective-mass
Hamiltonian (for slowly varying envelope functions) in which all interface
band-mixing effects are determined by the linear response. To within terms of
the same order as the position dependence of the effective mass, the quadratic
response contributes only a bulk band offset term and an interface dipole term,
both of which are diagonal in the effective-mass Hamiltonian. Long-range
multipole Coulomb fields arise in quantum wires or dots, but have no
qualitative effect in two-dimensional systems beyond a dipole contribution to
the band offsets.Comment: 25 pages, no figures, RevTeX4; v3: final published versio
Least action principle for envelope functions in abrupt heterostructures
We apply the envelope function approach to abrupt heterostructures starting
with the least action principle for the microscopic wave function. The
interface is treated nonperturbatively, and our approach is applicable to
mismatched heterostructure. We obtain the interface connection rules for the
multiband envelope function and the short-range interface terms which consist
of two physically distinct contributions. The first one depends only on the
structure of the interface, and the second one is completely determined by the
bulk parameters. We discover new structure inversion asymmetry terms and new
magnetic energy terms important in spintronic applications.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur
General boundary conditions for the envelope function in multiband k.p model
We have derived general boundary conditions (BC) for the multiband envelope
functions (which do not contain spurious solutions) in semiconductor
heterostructures with abrupt heterointerfaces. These BC require the
conservation of the probability flux density normal to the interface and
guarantee that the multiband Hamiltonian be self--adjoint. The BC are energy
independent and are characteristic properties of the interface. Calculations
have been performed of the effect of the general BC on the electron energy
levels in a potential well with infinite potential barriers using a coupled two
band model. The connection with other approaches to determining BC for the
envelope function and to the spurious solution problem in the multiband k.p
model are discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. B 65, March 15
issue 200
Interface electronic states and boundary conditions for envelope functions
The envelope-function method with generalized boundary conditions is applied
to the description of localized and resonant interface states. A complete set
of phenomenological conditions which restrict the form of connection rules for
envelope functions is derived using the Hermiticity and symmetry requirements.
Empirical coefficients in the connection rules play role of material parameters
which characterize an internal structure of every particular heterointerface.
As an illustration we present the derivation of the most general connection
rules for the one-band effective mass and 4-band Kane models. The conditions
for the existence of Tamm-like localized interface states are established. It
is shown that a nontrivial form of the connection rules can also result in the
formation of resonant states. The most transparent manifestation of such states
is the resonant tunneling through a single-barrier heterostructure.Comment: RevTeX4, 11 pages, 5 eps figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
Band structure of semimagnetic Hg1-yMnyTe quantum wells
The band structure of semimagnetic Hg_1-yMn_yTe/Hg_1-xCd_xTe type-III quantum
wells has been calculated using eight-band kp model in an envelope function
approach. Details of the band structure calculations are given for the Mn free
case (y=0). A mean field approach is used to take the influence of the sp-d
exchange interaction on the band structure of QW's with low Mn concentrations
into account. The calculated Landau level fan diagram and the density of states
of a Hg_0.98Mn_0.02Te/Hg_0.3Cd_0.7Te QW are in good agreement with recent
experimental transport observations. The model can be used to interpret the
mutual influence of the two-dimensional confinement and the sp-d exchange
interaction on the transport properties of Hg_1-yMn_yTe/Hg_1-xCd_xTe QW's.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure
Bayesian Methods for Exoplanet Science
Exoplanet research is carried out at the limits of the capabilities of
current telescopes and instruments. The studied signals are weak, and often
embedded in complex systematics from instrumental, telluric, and astrophysical
sources. Combining repeated observations of periodic events, simultaneous
observations with multiple telescopes, different observation techniques, and
existing information from theory and prior research can help to disentangle the
systematics from the planetary signals, and offers synergistic advantages over
analysing observations separately. Bayesian inference provides a
self-consistent statistical framework that addresses both the necessity for
complex systematics models, and the need to combine prior information and
heterogeneous observations. This chapter offers a brief introduction to
Bayesian inference in the context of exoplanet research, with focus on time
series analysis, and finishes with an overview of a set of freely available
programming libraries.Comment: Invited revie
Auger Recombination in Semiconductor Quantum Wells
The principal mechanisms of Auger recombination of nonequilibrium carriers in
semiconductor heterostructures with quantum wells are investigated. It is shown
for the first time that there exist three fundamentally different Auger
recombination mechanisms of (i) thresholdless, (ii) quasi-threshold, and (iii)
threshold types. The rate of the thresholdless Auger process depends on
temperature only slightly. The rate of the quasi-threshold Auger process
depends on temperature exponentially. However, its threshold energy essentially
varies with quantum well width and is close to zero for narrow quantum wells.
It is shown that the thresholdless and the quasi-threshold Auger processes
dominate in narrow quantum wells, while the threshold and the quasi-threshold
processes prevail in wide quantum wells. The limiting case of a
three-dimensional (3D)Auger process is reached for infinitely wide quantum
wells. The critical quantum well width is found at which the quasi-threshold
and threshold Auger processes merge into a single 3D Auger process. Also
studied is phonon-assisted Auger recombination in quantum wells. It is shown
that for narrow quantum wells the act of phonon emission becomes resonant,
which in turn increases substantially the coefficient of phonon-assisted Auger
recombination. Conditions are found under which the direct Auger process
dominates over the phonon-assisted Auger recombination at various temperatures
and quantum well widths.Comment: 38 pages, 7 figure
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