Dynamic scenarios of multistable switching in semiconductor superlattices - art. no. 066207

We analyze the dynamics of charge distributions in weakly coupled. doped, d e voltage biased semiconductor superlattices subject to voltage steps of di fferent sizes. Qualitatively different current responses to voltage switchi ng processes have been observed experimentally. We explain them by invoking distinct scenarios for electric-held domain formation, validated by numeri cal simulations. Furthermore, we investigate the transient from an unstable to a stable point in the current-voltage characteristics after a steplike or ramplike increase of the external voltage.