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Optical instabilities in semiconductor quantum‐well systems driven by phase‐space filling
Author(s) -
Schumacher Stefan,
Kwong N. H.,
Binder R.,
Smirl Arthur L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.200880353
Subject(s) - four wave mixing , quantum well , semiconductor , physics , mixing (physics) , phase space , quantum , optoelectronics , nonlinear optics , optics , quantum mechanics , nonlinear system , laser
Four‐wave mixing (FWM) is one of the best known phenomena in semiconductor optics. Recent experimental results of FWM instabilities and optical switching in atomic systems have renewed the interest in FWM and possible related instabilities in semiconductors. We have recently performed theoretical investigations of FWM instabilities in a variety of semiconductor quantum well systems (single quantum wells, Bragg‐spaced multiple quantum wells, and planar semiconductor micocavities) and shown that different systems require different physical processes that potentially can give rise to FWM instabilities. In this contribution, we concentrate on the simple (and largely academic) finding that phase‐space filling together with spatial exciton dispersion can lead to FWM instabilities in single quantum wells. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)