The nature of radiative recombination processes in high-electron-mobil
ity AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterostructures is revealed from optically detect
ed cyclotron resonance (ODCR) experiments. A mechanism of ODCR detecti
on is observed and is related to the band bending across the GaAs acti
ve layer caused by impact ionization of shallow donors and accepters b
y carriers heated at CR conditions. The results of the ODCR experiment
s are compared with those obtained from photoluminescence measurements
under an applied gate voltage.