Investigation on nonlinear optical properties of symmetric and asymmetric double V-shaped Al_xGa_1-xAs/GaAs potential wells with structural parameters and external electromagnetic fields

ABSTRACT

Linear, nonlinear and total optical absorption coefficients and relative refractive index changes for symmetric and asymmetric double V-shaped quantum well configurations formed within AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterostructure have been theoretically investigated. Responses of these coefficients to well widths, barrier widths and aluminium concentrations within the barrier as well as applied external electromagnetic fields were the subject of this study. The electronic spectra of the structures are obtained as a solution to the Schrödinger equation with relevant potential and external agents in the framework of effective mass and envelope wave function approximations. The optical properties are calculated by the analytical expressions obtained by iterative solutions within the compact density matrix approach. Although increasing barrier width and aluminium concentration act similarly significant red shifting on the referred coefficients for both symmetric and asymmetric double V-shaped wells, the varying well widths act differently for each configuration. Strengthening electric and magnetic fields shift the resonance peaks to blue for both symmetric and asymmetric wells. The results show that optical properties can be controlled by structural parameters, external probes and asymmetry of double V-shaped wells.

KEYWORDS:

• Symmetric double quantum well
• asymmetric double quantum well
• optical absorption coefficients
• relative refractive index changes

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on request.