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Optical Bistability Induced by Charge Separation in Asymmetric Quantum Wells
Author(s) -
Scandolo S.,
Tassone F.
Publication year - 1992
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.2221730145
Subject(s) - optical bistability , bistability , nanosecond , quantum well , excitation , absorption (acoustics) , electric field , optoelectronics , optical switch , condensed matter physics , charge (physics) , quantum , materials science , physics , laser , optics , nonlinear optics , quantum mechanics
A novel mechanism for intrinsic optical bistability in quantum wells is proposed. In suitable structures the intrinsic electric field generated by optical excitation leads to the lowering of some interband transition energies. Therefore, increasing‐absorption bistability occurs for proper choice of operation conditions, without considering excitonic or many‐body effects. A numercal study of a InAs–GaSb quantum well is carried out and switch‐on intensities of the order of 10 2 kW/cm 2 for a nanosecond response time are found.