WORK FUNCTION OF A 2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON-GAS IN FLAT-BAND HETEROJUNCTIONS - THE ROLE OF IMAGE CHARGES

Authors
GROSHEV A SCHON G
Citation
A. Groshev et G. Schon, WORK FUNCTION OF A 2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON-GAS IN FLAT-BAND HETEROJUNCTIONS - THE ROLE OF IMAGE CHARGES, Physical review letters, 71(17), 1993, pp. 2809-2812
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
Physical review letters → ACNP
ISSN journal
00319007
Volume
71
Issue
17
Year of publication
1993
Pages
2809 - 2812
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(1993)71:17<2809:WFOA2E>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
We introduce and calculate the work function PHI2DEG of a 2-dimensiona l electron gas (2DEG). In contrast to the situation in 3D metals PHI2D EG is determined by the image tail of the potential, which arises due to the screening by the free carriers in the 2DEG. The work function P HI2DEG can be measured by the photoelectric effect in the far-infrared regime using existing experimental structures and techniques. Typical values for GaAs/AlGaAs heterojunctions are in the range PHI2DEG almos t-equal-to 1.5 - 2 meV.