Piecewise-constant approximation of the potential profile of multiple quantum well intrinsic heterostructures

Knowledge of the energy band diagram is very important in semiconductor physics due to the fact that the band diagram influences almost all parts of the physics of a semiconductor device. In this paper we examine a piecewise-constant approximation of the potential profile through a comparison with a comprehensive self-consistent model, with regard to the active regions of QW semiconductor lasers and amplifiers. The validity of this approximation is then defined, thus giving an insight into the physics of QW structures.