85 research outputs found
Intentionally disordered superlattices with high dc conductance
We study disordered quantum-well-based semiconductor superlattices where the
disorder is intentional and short-range correlated. Such systems consist of
quantum-wells of two different thicknesses randomly distributed along the
growth direction, with the additional constraint that wells of one kind always
appears in pairs. Imperfections due to interface roughness are considered by
allowing the quantum-well thicknesses to fluctuate around their {\em ideal}
values. As particular examples, we consider wide-gap
(GaAs-GaAlAs) and narrow-gap (InAs-GaSb) superlattices. We show
the existence of a band of extended states in perfect correlated disordered
superlattices, giving rise to a strong enhancement of their finite-temperature
dc conductance as compared to usual random ones whenever the Fermi level
matches this band. This feature is seen to survive even if interface roughness
is taken into account. Our predictions can be used to demonstrate
experimentally that structural correlations inhibit the localization effects of
disorder, even in the presence of imperfections. This effect might be the basis
of new, filter-like or other specific-purpose electronic devices.Comment: REVTeX 3.0, 20 pages, 7 uuencoded compressed PostScript figures as a
separate file. Submitted to IEEE J Quantum Elec
Understanding delocalization in the Continuous Random Dimer model
We propose an explanation of the bands of extended states appearing in random
one dimensional models with correlated disorder, focusing on the Continuous
Random Dimer model [A.\ S\'{a}nchez, E.\ Maci\'a, and F.\ Dom\'\i nguez-Adame,
Phys.\ Rev.\ B {\bf 49}, 147 (1994)]. We show exactly that the transmission
coefficient at the resonant energy is independent of the number of host sites
between two consecutive dimers. This allows us to understand why are there
bands of extended states for every realization of the model as well as the
dependence of the bandwidths on the concentration. We carry out a perturbative
calculation that sheds more light on the above results. In the conclusion we
discuss generalizations of our results to other models and possible
applications which arise from our new insight of this problem.Comment: REVTeX 3.0, 4 pages, 4 figures (hard copy on request from
[email protected]), Submitted to Phys Rev
Absence of extended states in a ladder model of DNA
We consider a ladder model of DNA for describing carrier transport in a fully
coherent regime through finite segments. A single orbital is associated to each
base, and both interstrand and intrastrand overlaps are considered within the
nearest-neighbor approximation. Conduction through the sugar-phosphate backbone
is neglected. We study analytically and numerically the spatial extend of the
corresponding states by means of the Landauer and Lyapunov exponents. We
conclude that intrinsic-DNA correlations, arising from the natural base
pairing, does not suffice to observe extended states, in contrast to previous
claims.Comment: 4 RevTex pages, 4 figures include
Transport in random quantum dot superlattices
We present a novel model to calculate single-electron states in random
quantum dot superlattices made of wide-gap semiconductors. The source of
disorder comes from the random arrangement of the quantum dots (configurational
disorder) as well as spatial inhomogeneities of their shape (morphological
disorder). Both types of disorder break translational symmetry and prevent the
formation of minibands, as occurs in regimented arrays of quantum dots. The
model correctly describes channel mixing and broadening of allowed energy bands
due to elastic scattering by disorder
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