Exciton-phonon interaction in single and double quantum wells

A review is given on studies of exciton-phonon interaction in single quantu m wells by means of a nonequilibrium phonon technique. It is shown that in the presence of nonequilibrium phonons the exciton energy distribution is n on-Boltzmann. It is sensitive to the phonon energy and momentum distributio n and also depends on the quantum well width. The results clearly show the role of 2D exciton confinement in the exciton-phonon interaction. In slight ly asymmetric double quantum wells a rapid phonon-assisted relaxation of co upled excitons is observed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.