Auger lifetime enhancement in InAs–Ga1−<i>x</i>In<i>x</i>Sb superlattices

E. R. Youngdale, J. R. Meyer, C. A. Hoffman, F. J. Bartoli, C. H. Grein, Paul M. Young, Hannelore Ehrenreich, R. H. Miles, D. H. Chow

Applied Physics Letters · 1994 · 289 citations · 12 references

Concepts

Abstract

We have experimentally and theoretically investigated the Auger recombination lifetime in InAs–Ga1−xInxSb superlattices. Data were obtained by analyzing the steady-state photoconductive response to frequency-doubled CO2 radiation, at intensities varying by over four orders of magnitude. Theoretical Auger rates were derived, based on a k⋅p calculation of the superlattice band structure in a model which employs no adjustable parameters. At 77 K, both experiment and theory yield Auger lifetimes which are approximately two orders of magnitude longer than those in Hg1−xCdxTe with the same energy gap. This finding has highly favorable implications for the application of InAs–Ga1−xInxSb superlattices to infrared detector and nonlinear optical devices.

References

12