Quasi two-dimensional carriers in dilute-magnetic-semiconductor quantum wells under in-plane magnetic field

Due to the competition between spatial and magnetic confinement, the density of states of a quasi two-dimensional system deviates from the ideal step-like form both quantitatively and qualitatively. We study how this affects the spin-subband populations and the spin-polarization as functions of the temperature, $T$, and the in-plane magnetic field, $B$, for narrow to wide dilute-magnetic-semiconductor quantum wells. We focus on the quantum well width, the magnitude of the spin-spin exchange interaction, and the sheet carrier concentration dependence. We look for ranges where the system is completely spin-polarized. Increasing $T$, the carrier spin-splitting, $U_{o\sigma}$, decreases, while increasing $B$, $U_{o\sigma}$ increases. Moreover, due to the density of states modification, all energetically higher subbands become gradually depopulated.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Spin-subband populations and spin polarization of quasi two-dimensional carriers under in-plane magnetic field

Under an in-plane magnetic field, the density of states of quasi two-dimensional carriers deviates from the occasionally stereotypic step-like form both quantitatively and qualitatively. For the first time, we study how this affects the spin-subband populations and the spin-polarization as functions of the temperature, T, and the in-plane magnetic field, B, for narrow to wide dilute-magnetic-semiconductor quantum wells. We examine a wide range of material and structural parameters, focusing on the quantum well width, the magnitude of the spin-spin exchange interaction, and the sheet carrier concentration. Generally, increasing T, the carrier spin-splitting, U, decreases, augmenting the influence of the minority-spin carriers. Increasing B, U increases and accordingly carriers populate majority-spin subbands while they abandon minority-spin subbands. Furthermore, in line with the density of states modification, all energetically higher subbands become gradually depopulated. We also indicate the ranges where the system is completely spin-polarized.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, Physical Review B (in press

Purely orbital diamagnetic to paramagnetic fluctuation of quasi two-dimensional carriers under in-plane magnetic field

An external magnetic field, $H$, applied parallel to a quasi two-dimensional system modifies quantitatively and qualitatively the density of states. Using a self-consistent numerical approach, we study how this affects the entropy, $S$, the free energy, $F$, and the magnetization, $M$, for different sheet carrier concentrations, $N_s$. As a prototype system we employ III-V double quantum wells. We find that although $M$ is mainly in the opposite direction of $H$, the system is not linear. Surprisingly $\partial M / \partial H$ swings between negative and positive values, i.e., we predict an entirely orbital diamagnetic to paramagnetic fluctuation. This phenomenon is important compared to the ideal de Haas-van Alphen effect i.e. the corresponding phenomenon under perpendicular magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Empirical LCAO parameters for π\pi molecular orbitals in planar organic molecules

We present a parametrization within a simplified LCAO model (a type of Hueckel model) for the description of $\pi$ molecular orbitals in organic molecules containing $\pi$-bonds between carbon, nitrogen, or oxygen atoms with $sp^2$ hybridization, which we show to be quite accurate in predicting the energy of the highest occupied $\pi$ orbital and the first $\pi$-$\pi*$ transition energy for a large set of organic compounds. We provide four empirical parameter values for the diagonal matrix elements of the LCAO description, corresponding to atoms of carbon, nitrogen with one $p_z$ electron, nitrogen with two $p_z$ electrons, and oxygen. The bond-length dependent formula (proportional to $1/d^2$) of Harrison is used for the non-diagonal matrix elements between neighboring atoms. The predictions of our calculations have been tested against available experimental results in more than sixty organic molecules, including benzene and its derivatives, polyacenes, aromatic hydrocarbons of various geometries, polyenes, ketones, aldehydes, azabenzenes, nucleic acid bases and others. The comparison is rather successful, taking into account the small number of parameters and the simplicity of the LCAO method, involving only $p_z$ atomic orbitals, which leads even to analytical calculations in some cases.Comment: 20 pages, 6 tables, 65 planar organic molecule

Energy structure, density of states and transmission properties of the periodic 1D Tight-Binding lattice with a generic unit cell of uu sites

We report on the electronic structure, density of states and transmission properties of the periodic one-dimensional Tight-Binding (TB) lattice with a single orbital per site and nearest-neighbor interactions, with a generic unit cell of $u$ sites. The determination of the eigenvalues is equivalent to the diagonalization of a real tridiagonal symmetric $u$-Toeplitz matrix with (cyclic boundaries) or without (fixed boundaries) perturbed upper right and lower left corners. We solve the TB equations via the Transfer Matrix Method, producing, analytical solutions and recursive relations for its eigenvalues, closely related to the Chebyshev polynomials. We examine the density of states and provide relevant analytical relations. We attach semi-infinite leads, determine and discuss the transmission coefficient at zero bias and investigate the peaks number and position, and the effect of the coupling strength and asymmetry as well as of the lead properties on the transmission profiles. We introduce a generic optimal coupling condition and demonstrate its physical meaning.Comment: 23 pages, 20 figure

Density of states and electron concentration of double heterojunctions subjected to an in-plane magnetic field

We calculate the electronic states of Al$_x$Ga$_{1-x}$As/GaAs/Al$_x$Ga$_{1-x}$As double heterojunctions subjected to a magnetic field parallel to the quasi two-dimensional electron gas. We study the energy dispersion curves, the density of states, the electron concentration and the distribution of the electrons in the subbands. The parallel magnetic field induces severe changes in the density of states, which are of crucial importance for the explanation of the magnetoconductivity in these structures. However, to our knowledge, there is no systematic study of the density of states under these circumstances. We attempt a contribution in this direction. For symmetric heterostructures, the depopulation of the higher subbands, the transition from a single to a bilayer electron system and the domination of the bulk Landau levels in the centre the wide quantum well, as the magnetic field is continuously increased, are presented in the ``energy dispersion picture'' as well as in the ``electron concentration picture'' and in the ``density of states picture''.Comment: J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 11 No 26 (5 July 1999) 5131-5141 Figures (three) embedde