Electron-optical-phonon scattering in non-square quantum-well structures

Based on the dielectric continuum theory, a novel method is proposed to ana lyze the electron-optical-phonon scattering rates in quantum wells with var ying composition profile. Using the method, electron-phonon scattering rate s are obtained as a function of well width for graded quantum-well and para bolic quantum-well structures of Ga1-xAlxAs and compared with those for squ are quantum-well structures. The method could be powerful for understanding the phonon-related processes in the other structures and designing the qua ntum-well devices. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.