The Effect of Non-Equilibrium Acoustic Phonons on the Tunnel Current in GaAs/AlAs Superlattices

Authors

S. A. CAVILL
F. F. OUALI
L. J. CHALLIS
A. J. KENT
M. HENINI
A. V. AKIMOV

DOI

-

Abstract

We present the first study of the effect of ballistic acoustic phonons generated by a heated metal film on the tunnel current in GaAs/AlAs superlattices. The phonon-induced increase of the tunnel current as a function of applied voltage has a maximum at a voltage that varies linearly with heater temperature both in zero and applied magnetic field. The behaviour is consistent with phonon-assisted tunnelling by stimulated phonon emission. The system acts as a phonon spectrometer in the < 1THz frequency region with a resolution of approximately 200 GHz.

First Page

745

Last Page

750

Recommended Citation

CAVILL, S. A.; OUALI, F. F.; CHALLIS, L. J.; KENT, A. J.; HENINI, M.; and AKIMOV, A. V. (1999) "The Effect of Non-Equilibrium Acoustic Phonons on the Tunnel Current in GaAs/AlAs Superlattices," Turkish Journal of Physics: Vol. 23: No. 4, Article 27. Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/physics/vol23/iss4/27