OPERATION AND THEORETICAL-ANALYSIS OF THE MULTIPLE ASYMMETRIC COUPLED-QUANTUM-WELL LIGHT-MODULATOR IN THE N-I-N CONFIGURATION

Results of optical measurements on a multiple asymmetric quantum-well device in the n-i-n configuration that demonstrate for the first time its applicability as a light modulator are presented. The contrast rat io at the fundamental heavy hole exciton resonance is close to 2 for s mall operating voltage of around 3.5 V, Dual wavelength operation was proved possible with a weaker contrast ratio at 1.68 eV, The energy le vels and the absorption coefficient are calculated in the envelope fun ction approximation within the eight-band k x p model with electric fi eld-dependent transition energies in agreement with theory, Weak devia tions from the step-like character of the calculated absorption spectr um are explained by the wavevector dependence of the optical matrix el ement.