Geometry effects on quasi-particle inelastic scattering rate in a coupled-quantum-layers system at finite temperature: A theoretical study

Geometry effects on intra-layer inelastic scattering rate of interacting electrons in a coupled-quantum-wells structure, at finite temperature, is theoretically investigated. The random phase approximation is employed to calculate the dynamically screened electron–electron interactions at different temperatures, electron energies and densities. This study is limited to the electrons which are close to the Fermi level so that only quasi-particles contribute to the scattering rate. It is shown that while scattering rate increases slightly with increasing well separation, this effect weakens quickly and broadening tends to a certain limit which is the electron broadening in a single quantum layer. Moreover, the thickness effect in a coupled-quantum-wells structure shows a strong decreasing trend with increasing well width. While the electrons in the same layer make a substantial contribution to screening and as a result to inelastic scattering rate, the electrons in the adjacent layer play an important role, as well.