EMISSION OF TRANSVERSE ACOUSTIC PHONONS BY 2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRONS DUE TO HETEROINTERFACE VIBRATIONS

A mechanism of two-dimensional (2D) electron interaction with acoustic phonons due to heterointerface vibrations is predicted in quantum str uctures. This mechanism originates from the fact that acoustic phonons induce vibrations of heterointerface boundaries and, hence, the modul ation of electron quantization energies. For such a mechanism the elec tron interaction with transverse acoustic modes is not forbidden. We h ave calculated the emission rates of transverse acoustic phonons by ho t 2D electrons in quantum wells. The energy and angular distributions of emitted phonons via this ''macroscopic deformation'' mechanism of c oupling are calculated. Comparison to the piezoelectric mechanism of p honon emission is presented.