Direct observation of optical anisotropy in a GaAs/AlAs quantum well wire array

Abstract

Using reflectance difference spectroscopy and transmittance difference spectroscopy, optical anisotropy in a quantum well wire array is directly observed at room temperature. The quantum wire array is a fractional-layer superlattice grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on a vicinal (001)GaAs substrate. The size for quantum confinement of the wires is nominally 4×4 nm. Polarization dependence of optical absorption and refractive index is clearly observed between the directions parallel and perpendicular to the wires.