SYMMETRY-BREAKING IN PSEUDOMORPHIC V-GROOVE QUANTUM WIRES

Pseudomorphic crescent-shaped quantum wires are shown to exhibit size- dependent symmetry breaking due to an anisotropic strain distribution. We predict level degeneracies and an increased carrier lifetime. As a model system In0.2Ga0.8As/Al0.2Ga0.8As quantum wires are simulated wi th finite-element analysis to obtain the strain tenser. Within the con finement potentials, which are strongly modified by the strain-induced potentials and the piezoelectric field, the single-particle Schroding er equation is solved for electrons and holes.