Nonlinear transport in semiconductor superlattices
Cannon, Ethan Harrison
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/30874
Description
Title
Nonlinear transport in semiconductor superlattices
Author(s)
Cannon, Ethan Harrison
Issue Date
1999
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Campbell, D.K.
Department of Study
Physics
Discipline
Physics
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
semiconductor superlattices
Boltzmann type transport equation
Language
en
Abstract
"We develop a semiclassical balance equation model for transport through a single miniband
of a semiconductor superlattice subject to a spatially uniform, time-dependent external electric field and/or a constant external magnetic field. The balance equations are derived from the semiclassical Boltzmann transport equation and include energy and momentum relaxation. They also incorporate the self-consistent electric field generated by electron motion. In a temporally periodic external electric field, the applied magnetic field and the self-consistent electric field lead to novel nonlinear transport phenomena such as dissipative chaos and, in the absence of an external bias, symmetry-breaking. This symmetry-breaking leads to a spontaneously
generated bias that often approximately satisfies a phase-locking condition corresponding to resonant photon absorption in the Wannier-Stark ladder resulting from the spontaneous bias. The current-voltage characteristic without time-dependent driving exhibits multistability for
sufficiently large magnetic or self-consistent electric fields, and spontaneous current generation at zero bias is predicted for certain nonequilibrium ""hot"" electrons. We examine several limiting
cases of this model to guide our studies of the general set of balance equations. We also develop clear physical intuition for, and consider the possible experimental signatures of, the novel transport properties predicted by our theoretical studies."
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