Long range resonant tunneling in quantum cascade structures

Abstract

Tunneling transport in a quantum cascade detector is investigated. With regard to coherent transport in quantum cascade lasers, a Kazarinov–Suris approach R. F. Kazarinov and R. A. Suris, [Sov. Phys. Semicond. 6, 120 (1972)] needs to be modified through the introduction of an additional Fermi–Dirac factor in order to properly model the experimental data at low temperature. Electronic current is completely dominated by tunneling transport; the model here presented should help to suppress it in the future design of efficient quantum cascade detectors.