Nonlinear interaction between surface acoustic waves and electrons in GaAsresonant-tunneling structures

A surface acoustic wave propagating within a resonant-tunneling structure m odulates the rate of electron tunneling and creates a charge density wave i n the depletion region of the structure. The charge wave acts piezoelectric ally on the surface acoustic wave, thus providing a feedback; mechanism. Th e interaction is strongly nonlinear because the tunneling rate is a nonline ar function of the potential drop across the quantum well of the resonant t unneling structure. We present an experimental and theoretical study of non linear effects in this distributed acoustoelectric system.