Linear and nonlinear intersubband optical absorption coefficients and refractive index changes in symmetric double semi-V-shaped quantum wells

Abstract

In this study, the changes in the refractive index and intersubband optical absorption coefficients in symmetric double semi-V-shaped quantum wells are investigated theoretically. The energy levels and the envelope wave functions of an electron confined in finite potential double semi-V-shaped quantum wells are calculated within the effective-mass approximation framework. The analytical expressions of the refractive index and intersubband optical absorption coefficients are obtained using the compact density matrix approach. The effects of the incident optical intensity and structure parameters, such as the barrier width, confinement potential and the well width, on the optical properties of the double semi-V-shaped quantum wells are investigated. The numerical results show that both the incident optical intensity and structure paremeters have a great effect on the optical characteristics of these structures. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.