Saturation of intersubband transitions in<i>p</i>-type semiconductor quantum wells

Abstract

Saturation behavior of intersubband optical transitions in p-type semiconductor quantum wells is examined theoretically with the multiband effective-mass model. Carrier-phonon scatterings are taken into account within the deformation-potential approximation. Deviation of the hole distribution from thermal equilibrium due to optical pumping is calculated by solving coupled rate equations. Pump-and-probe absorption spectra are also studied, and possible applications for light-by-light modulation are discussed.