Polaron effects on the optical rectification in asymmetrical semi-exponential quantum wells

•Asymmetrical semi-exponential quantum wells have been proposed.•The eigenfunctions and energy eigenvalues are obtained by solving Schrödinger equation.•Optical rectification coefficients are strongly affected by σ  , U0U0.•The resonant peak of the optical rectification is enhanced when the polaron effect is considered.

Polaron effects on the optical rectification in asymmetrical semi-exponential quantum wells(ASEQWs) are theoretically investigated. The expressions for optical rectification(OR) is obtained with the framework of the compact-density- matrix approach and iterative method. It is founded that with considering the electron–Lo-phonon interaction(ELOPI), the energy levels and the wave functions of an electron confined in ASEQWs are obtained. Numerical results are illustrated for a typical GaAs/AlGaAs. It is founded that when considering the electron–Lo-phonon, the resonant peak of the OR χ02 is enhanced, and the blue shifts are also observed.