Superlattices and Other Heterostructures deals with optical properties of superlattices and quantum-well structures with emphasis on phenomena governed by crystal symmetries. After a brief introduction to group theory and symmetries, methods to calculate spectra of electrons, excitions and phonons in heterostructures are discussed. Further chapters cover absorption and reflection of light under interband transitions, cyclotron and electron spin-resoncance, light scattering by free and bound carriers as well as by optical and acoustic phonons, polarized photoluminescence, optical spin orientation of electrons and excitions, and nonlinear optical and photogalvanic effects.

This book surveys semiconductor superlattices, in particular their growth and electronic properties in an applied electric field perpendicular to the layers. The main developments in this field, which were achieved in the last five to seven years, are summarized. The electronic properties include transport through minibands at low electric field strengths, the Wannier-Stark localization and Bloch oscillations at intermediate electric field strengths, resonant tunneling of electrons and holes between different subbands, and the formation of electric field domains for large carrier densities at high electric field strengths.

Superlattices and Other Heterostructures deals with the optical properties of superlattices and quantum well structures with emphasis on phenomena governed by crystal symmetries. After a brief introduction to group theory and symmetries, methods for calculating spectra of electrons, excitons, and phonons in heterostructures are discussed. Further chapters cover absorption and reflection of light under interband transitions, cyclotron and electron spin-resonance, light scattering by free and bound carriers as well as by optical and acoustic phonons, polarized photoluminescence, optical spin orientation of electrons and excitons, and nonlinear optical and photogalvanic effects.

This book contains the lectures delivered at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Physics and Applications of Quantum Wells and Superlattices", held in Erice, Italy, on April 21-May 1, 1987. This course was the fourth one of the International School of Solid-State Device Research, which is under the auspices of the Ettore Majorana Center for Scientific Culture. In the last ten years, we have seen an enormous increase in re search in the field of Semiconductor Heterostructures, as evidenced by the large percentage of papers presented in recent international conferences on semiconductor physics. Undoubtfully, this expansion has been made possible by dramatic advances in materials preparation, mostly by molecular beam epitaxy and organometallic chemical vapor deposition. The emphasis on epitaxial growth that was prevalent at the beginning of the decade (thus, the second course of the School, held in 1983, was devoted to Molecular Beam Epitaxy and Heterostructures) has given way to a strong interest in new physical phenomena and new material structures, and to practical applications that are already emerging from them.

Interest in antimonide-related heterostructures is burgeoning due to their applications as light sources, diode lasers, modulators, filters, switches, nonlinear optics, and field-defect transistors. This volume, featuring contributions from leading researchers in the field, is the first book to focus on antimonide-related topics. It offers to both the beginning student and the advanced researcher a comprehensive review of the state of the art in this exciting new area of research.

Examines the basic electronic and optical properties of two- dimensional semiconductor heterostructures based on III-V and II-VI compounds. Explores various consequences of one-dimensional size-quantization on the most basic physical properties of heterolayers. Beginning with basic quantum mechanical properties of idealized quantum wells and superlattices, it discusses the occurrence of bound states when the heterostructure is imperfect or when it is shone with near bandgap light.

Long Wave Polar Modes in Semiconductor Heterostructures is concerned with the study of polar optical modes in semiconductor heterostructures from a phenomenological approach and aims to simplify the model of lattice dynamics calculations. The book provides useful tools for performing calculations relevant to anyone who might be interested in practical applications. The main focus of Long Wave Polar Modes in Semiconductor Heterostructures is planar heterostructures (quantum wells or barriers, superlattices, double barrier structures etc) but there is also discussion on the growing field of quantum wires and dots. Also to allow anyone reading the book to apply the techniques discussed for planar heterostructures, the scope has been widened to include cylindrical and spherical geometries. The book is intended as an introductory text which guides the reader through basic questions and expands to cover state-of-the-art professional topics. The book is relevant to experimentalists wanting an instructive presentation of a simple phenomenological model and theoretical tools to work with and also to young theoreticians by providing discussion of basic issues and the basis of advanced theoretical formulations. The book also provides a brief respite on the physics of piezoelectric waves as a coupling to polar optical modes.