Optoelectronic response calculations in the framework of k·p coupled to non-equilibrium Green's functions for one-dimensional systems in the ballistic limit

Buin, Andrei; Verma, Amit; Saini, Simarjeet S.

doi:10.1063/1.4815949

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…For the selectively contacted system, the negative contributions in the generation rate give rise to reverse flow at certain energies (this was also observed for purely 1D systems in Ref. 29), as revealed in Fig. 5(c), however, like in the case of the generation rate, the observable integral current is always positive and the sum of electron and hole current contributions is perfectly conserved, as shown in Fig.…”

Section: Coupling To Classical Fieldssupporting

confidence: 68%

Quantum-kinetic theory of steady-state photocurrent generation in thin films: Coherent versus incoherent coupling

Aeberhard

2014

Phys. Rev. B

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The generation of photocurrents due to coupling of electrons to both classical and quantized electromagnetic fields in thin semiconductor films is described within the framework of the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. For the coherent coupling to classical fields corresponding to single field operator averages, an effective two-time intraband self-energy is derived from a band decoupling procedure. The evaluation of coherent photogeneration is performed self-consistently with the propagation of the fields by using for the latter a transfer matrix formalism with an extinction coefficient derived from the electronic Green's functions. For the "incoherent" coupling to fluctuations of the quantized fields, which need to be considered for the inclusion of spontaneous emission, the first self-consistent Born self-energy is used, with full spatial resolution in the photon Green's functions. These are obtained from the numerical solution of Dyson and Keldysh equations including a nonlocal photon self-energy based on the same interband polarization function as used for the coherent case. A comparison of the spectral and integral photocurrent generation pattern reveals a close agreement between coherent and incoherent coupling for the case of an ultra-thin, selectively contacted absorber layer at short circuit conditions.

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Section: Coupling To Classical Fieldssupporting

confidence: 68%

Quantum-kinetic theory of steady-state photocurrent generation in thin films: Coherent versus incoherent coupling

Aeberhard

2014

Phys. Rev. B

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“…Among the suitable theories, the non-equilibrium Greens function (NEGF) formalism is most versatile and powerful and has found wide-spread application in the modeling of nanostructure-based quantum opto-electronic devices such as photodetectors based on QW [18] and QD [19], QW lasers [20], quantum cascade lasers [21,22], and QW LEDs [23]. In the field of nanostructure photovoltaics, applications of the NEGF formalism so far include carbon nanotube photodiodes [24], multi-QW and QW superlattice solar cells [25][26][27], nanowire solar cells [28], QD superlattice solar cells [29,30], ultra-thin absorber devices [31,32], and QW tunnel junctions for multi-junction solar cells [33].…”

Section: Non-equilibrium Quantum Statistical Mechanics Formulation Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photovoltaics at the mesoscale: insights from quantum-kinetic simulation

Aeberhard¹

2018

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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This Topical Review discusses insights into the physical mechanisms of nanostructure solar cell operation as provided by numerical device simulation using a state-of-the-art quantum-kinetic framework based on the non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) formalism. After a brief introduction to the field of nanostructure photovoltaics and an overview of the existing literature on theoretical description and experimental implementation of such devices, the quantum-kinetic formulation of photovoltaic processes is discussed in detail, together with more conventional modeling approaches such as global detailed balance theory and the semi-classical drift-diffusion-Poisson-Maxwell picture. Application examples provided subsequently include III-V semiconductor nanostructures ranging from ultra-thin absorbers to quantum well and quantum dot solar cell devices. The focus is on common features encountered in photovoltaic nanostructure architectures such as the impact of configurational parameters and operating conditions on device characteristics, and the pronounced deviations from the semiclassical bulk picture. Ultra-thin absorbers are investigated with focus on the effect of built-in fields and contact configuration on radiative rates and currents. For the case of single and multi-quantum-well p-in devices, generation, recombination, and escape of carriers are discussed, and quantum well superlattice solar cells are considered with regard to charge carrier transport regimes ranging from band-like transport in miniband states to sequential tunneling between neighboring periods. Double quantum well structures are further studied in the context of tunnel junctions for multijunction solar cell. The investigation of quantum dots covers the fluorescence of colloidal nanoparticles for luminescent solar concentrators as well as the impact of configurational parameters on the photovoltaic properties of regimented quantum dot arrays, both in single-junction and intermediate-band configurations.

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“…Among the suitable theories, the nonequilibrium Greens function (NEGF) formalism is most versatile and powerful and has found wide-spread application in the modeling of nanostructure-based quantum optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors based on QW [14] and QD [15], QW lasers [16], quantum cascade lasers [17,18], and QW LEDs [19]. In the field of nanostructure photovoltaics, applications of the NEGF formalism so far include carbon nanotube photodiodes [20], multi-QW and QW superlattice solar cells [21,22], nanowire solar cells [23], QD superlattice solar cells [24,25], ultra-thin absorber devices [26,27], and QW tunnel junctions for multi-junction solar cells [28]. For a detailed introduction to the NEGF approach for the simulation of nanostructure-based solar cell devices, the reader is referred to Ref.…”

Section: Quantum Kinetic Models For Microscopic Non-equilibrium Dynamicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum-kinetic perspective on photovoltaic device operation in nanostructure-based solar cells

Aeberhard

2018

J. Mater. Res.

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The implementation of a wide range of novel concepts for next-generation high-efficiency solar cells is based on nanostructures with configuration-tunable optoelectronic properties. On the other hand, effective nano-optical light-trapping concepts enable the use of ultra-thin absorber architectures. In both cases, the local density of electronic and optical states deviates strongly from that in a homogeneous bulk material. At the same time, non-local and coherent phenomena like tunneling or ballistic transport become increasingly relevant. As a consequence, the semiclassical, diffusive bulk picture conventionally assumed may no longer be appropriate to describe the physical processes of generation, transport, and recombination governing the photovoltaic operation of such devices. In this review, we provide a quantumkinetic perspective on photovoltaic device operation that reaches beyond the limits of the standard simulation models for bulk solar cells. Deviations from bulk physics are assessed in ultra-thin film and nanostructure-based solar cell architectures by comparing the predictions of the semi-classical models for key physical quantities such as absorption coefficients, emission spectra, generation and recombination rates as well as potentials, densities and currents with the corresponding properties as given by a more fundamental description based on non-equilibrium quantum statistical mechanics. This advanced approach, while paving the way to a comprehensive quantum theory of photovoltaics, bridges simulations at microscopic material and macroscopic device levels by providing the charge carrier dynamics at the mesoscale.

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Optoelectronic response calculations in the framework of k·p coupled to non-equilibrium Green's functions for one-dimensional systems in the ballistic limit

Cited by 11 publications

References 54 publications

Quantum-kinetic theory of steady-state photocurrent generation in thin films: Coherent versus incoherent coupling

Quantum-kinetic theory of steady-state photocurrent generation in thin films: Coherent versus incoherent coupling

Photovoltaics at the mesoscale: insights from quantum-kinetic simulation

Quantum-kinetic perspective on photovoltaic device operation in nanostructure-based solar cells

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