LATERAL ELECTRON-HOLE PLASMA DOMAINS UNDER BISTABLE ELECTROOPTICAL ABSORPTION IN QUANTUM-WELLS

We have formulated and analyzed a model of in-plane self-sustained pat tern formation in a quantum well heterostructure under bistable electr o-optical absorption. We have found a number of patterns which contain regions (quasi-neutral or charged) with different spreading of the el ectron and hole wave functions and different densities of the two-dime nsional.(2D) electron-hole plasma. Lateral redistributions of the plas ma induce a complex (two-or three-dimensional) configuration of the el ectrostatic potential. Stationary, moving, quasi-neutral, and charged patterns are studied.