The strong Stark effect of intersubband transitions in corrugated lateral surface superlattices

Abstract

Intersubband electro-absorption and electro-refraction index spectra of GaAs/AlAs corrugated lateral surface superlattices (CLSSLs) are calculated. Large shifts of intersubband transition energies and Fermi energy levels in the electron occupied subbands induced by applied electric fields result in strong intersubband Stark effects and large refractive index variations in the CLSSLs that we considered with moderate electric fields . Strong intersubband absorptions with normally incident light due to the corrugated interfaces of the CLSSLs which break the in-plane translational symmetry of the systems are predicted. Broadenings of the intersubband electro-absorption and electro-refraction index spectra caused by structural fluctuations of the CLSSLs are discussed.