CARRIER QUANTUM CONFINEMENT IN SELF-ORDERED ALXGA1-XAS V-GROOVE QUANTUM-WELLS

Observation of quantum confined states and optical anisotropy of the i nterband absorption in self-ordered A(x)Ga(1-x)As vertical quantum wel ls (VQW's) grown on V-grooved substrates is reported. The variation in Al composition across the VQW's was determined by parallel electron e nergy-loss spectroscopy. It was then employed to calculate the eigenst ates of the confined carriers in these structures, with valence-band m ixing included using a 4x4 kp Luttinger model. Polarized photoluminesc ence excitation spectra of the structure show features attributed to t ransitions between electron and heavy-hole or light-hole confined eige nstates, with measured energies in good agreement with the calculated ones. Polarization anisotropy associated with confined electrons and h oles is evidenced by the measured spectra and explained by valence-ban d mixing in the (011) self-ordered quantum well.