Dynamic localization leading to full supression of the dc current in a GaAs/AlAs superlattice
✍ Scribed by S. Winnerl; E. Schomburg; J. Grenzer; H.-J Regl; A.A. Ignatov; K.F. Renk; D.P. Pavel'ev; Yu. Koschurinov; B. Melzer; V. Ustinov; S. Ivanov; S. Schaposchnikov; P.S. Kop'ev
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1997
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 139 KB
- Volume
- 21
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0749-6036
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✦ Synopsis
We demonstrate that a strong THz-field (3.9 THz) can lead to full supression of the dc current through a GaAs/AlAs superlattice that shows, at room temperature, negative differential conductance. The miniband width ( = 50 meV) was much larger than the quantum energy of the radiation (16 meV). Using a semi-classical model we show that the miniband electrons do not relax during one period of the THz-field. In this case the reduction of the dc current can not be explained in terms of classical rectification caused by the non-linear currentvoltage characteristic. Rather it is due to dynamic localization of electrons, performing frequency modulated Bloch oscillations.