NONEQUILIBRIUM DISTRIBUTION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRONS IN THE PRESENCE OF TRANSVERSE HIGH-FREQUENCY PUMPING

A mechanism is described which leads to the formation of a nonequilibr ium distribution of two-dimensional electrons on account of the effect of the electric field of radiation on the interaction of the electron s with a phonon thermostat in the absence of absorption. An analysis i s made of the case of a nonresonant, transversely polarized pump, wher e the intersubband transitions and Drude absorption of the radiation a re very weak but the probabilities of transitions involving the partic ipation of phonons do not satisfy the principle of detailed balance. T he character of the nonequilibrium distribution of highly degenerate e lectrons is discussed and their effective temperature is found. (C) 19 98 American Institute of Physics.