Theory of Parametric Amplification in Superlattices

Hyart, Timo; Shorokhov, A. V.; Alekseev, Kirill N.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.98.220404

Cited by 40 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…This periodic structure leads to the formation of energy minibands that enable electrons, in the presence of an electric field, to demonstrate a number of interesting quantum-mechanical phenomena, which include the formation of Wannier-Stark ladders, sequential and resonant tunneling, Bragg reflections, and Bloch oscillations. Consequently, SLs are of a great interest for both fundamental and applied science 1, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] . Due to the high mobility of miniband electrons and the very high frequency of the Bloch and charge-domain oscillations, SLs have prospective applications in sub-THz and THz electronic devices 9,10,14,16,17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of temperature on resonant electron transport through stochastic conduction channels in superlattices

et al. 2011

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We show that resonant electron transport in semiconductor superlattices with an applied electric and tilted magnetic field can, surprisingly, become more pronounced as the lattice and conduction electron temperature increases from 4.2 K to room temperature and beyond. It has previously been demonstrated that at certain critical field parameters, the semiclassical trajectories of electrons in the lowest miniband of the superlattice change abruptly from fully localised to completely unbounded. The unbounded electron orbits propagate through intricate web patterns, known as stochastic webs, in phase space, which act as conduction channels for the electrons and produce a series of resonant peaks in the electron drift velocity versus electric field curves. Here, we show that increasing the lattice temperature strengthens these resonant peaks due to a subtle interplay between thermal population of the conduction channels and transport along them. This enhances both the electron drift velocity and the influence of the stochastic webs on the current-voltage characteristics, which we calculate by making self-consistent solutions of the coupled electron transport and Poisson equations throughout the superlattice. These solutions reveal that increasing the temperature also transforms the collective electron dynamics by changing both the threshold voltage required for the onset of self-sustained current oscillations, produced by propagating charge domains, and the oscillation frequency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of temperature on resonant electron transport through stochastic conduction channels in superlattices

et al. 2011

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“…In the presence of external electric and magnetic fields the transport of electrons in minibands is a complex behavior which results in a number of interesting phenomena that have useful applications in the ultrafast electronics like THz Bloch oscillations [1,18], dynamical electron confinement, negative differential velocity [19], and cyclotron-Bloch resonances and dynamical chaos [20]. These properties of SLs derive from a number of periodic layers that can be structured and controlled as desired.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transport Properties of “Man-Made” Crystalline Semiconductor Superlattices

Awodele¹,

Awodugba²

2017

JMSE-B

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Abstract:The electron transport in semiconductor superlattices exhibits interesting phenomena which are quite different from those that occurred in a bulk material. This depends on the electronic band structures in the semiconductor superlattices. The energy band gaps of the superlattices are aligned, but the magnitudes of the band gaps are different. The difference in the width of the energy gap in different semiconductors forms the boundary of the conductivity band for perfect semiconductor superlattices that is modulated periodically and leads to the formation of energy minibands.

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“…For long electron scattering times, Bloch oscillations at the mini-zone boundary will occur at a terahertz frequency ω B = edE / = 1.5 THz for nanohelices of pitch d = 10 nm and E = 10 3 V/cm, suggesting nanohelices as a useful commodity to resolve outstanding challenges in high frequency generators and amplifiers. We should mention that we do not take into account the effect of charged electric-field domains [67][68][69] either stationary or traveling through the superlattice, as in this work we are primarily concerned with only a proof of concept of superlattice behavior in nanohelices, however it will be a subject of future research.…”

Section: Bloch Oscillationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanohelices as superlattices: Bloch oscillations and electric dipole transitions

2016

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Subjecting a nanohelix to a transverse electric field gives rise to superlattice behavior with tunable electronic properties. We theoretically investigate such a system and find Bloch oscillations and negative differential conductance when a longitudinal electric field (along the nanohelix axis) is also applied. Furthermore, we study dipole transitions across the transverse-electric-field-induced energy gap, which can be tuned to the eulogized terahertz frequency range by experimentally attainable external fields. We also reveal a photogalvanic effect by shining circularly polarized light onto our helical quantum wire.

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Theory of Parametric Amplification in Superlattices

Cited by 40 publications

References 21 publications

Effect of temperature on resonant electron transport through stochastic conduction channels in superlattices

Effect of temperature on resonant electron transport through stochastic conduction channels in superlattices

Transport Properties of “Man-Made” Crystalline Semiconductor Superlattices

Nanohelices as superlattices: Bloch oscillations and electric dipole transitions

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