PATTERN-FORMATION AND STABILITY UNDER BISTABLE ELECTROOPTICAL ABSORPTION IN QUANTUM-WELLS

We have formulated and analyzed a model that explains the appearance o f self-sustained transversal pattern formation in photoexcited and vol tage biased QW structures. We justify the formation of patterns of qua si-neutral two-dimensional electron-hole plasma whose intrinsic bistab ility was shown in recent experiments. In our theory, a self-consisten t calculation of the wave functions and subband energies of the photoe xcited electrons and holes in the QW vertical direction is uncoupled f rom the transversal motion of the neutral plasma, which can be studied by classical drift-diffusion equations. We discuss the formation and stability properties of transversal patterns. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.