Zener Interminiband Resonant Breakdown in Superlattices

Abstract

Semiconductor superlattices are ideal systems to test theories involving band structure properties. We investigate here the ``Zener'' breakdown in the miniband structure of GaAs/GaAlAs superlattices, which, in contrast to interband tunneling in bulk semiconductors, exhibits resonant tunneling properties. The results of dc and microwave transport experiments are explained by a quantum sequential ladder descent model, incorporated in an effective medium description of the transport processes.