Electron-phonon interaction and electron scattering by modified confined LO phonons in semiconductor quantum wells

Abstract

An improved model of electron-phonon interaction for longitudinal-optical phonons in layered semiconductor quantum wells is developed. In this simple modified dielectric continuum model, the LO phonons are confined modes having electric and displacement fields that agree with both electrostatics and microscopic models of longitudinal-optical phonons. Numerical results are presented and discussed for the electric fields of these modes. The resulting scattering rates of electrons for emission and absorption of LO phonons in a quantum well are calculated and presented in graphical form.