Electron states and related optical responses in asymmetric inverse parabolic quantum wells

The article reports the obtention of the conduction band energy states for electrons in a AlxGa1−x As-based quantum well with inverse parabolic confinement. Accordingly, it has been possible to calculate the intersubband electron-transition-related optical absorption and rectification coefficients. The comparison between the results in the cases of symmetric and asymmetric rectangular barrier configurations allows to verify the possibility of the second-order optical rectification in the asymmetric case as well as a rather drastic change in the absorption coefficient as a function of the height of the inverse parabolic potential in such a configuration.

► Electron energy states in inverse parabolic confinement quantum wells. ► Calculation of electron- related optical absorption and rectification. ► Verification of the second-order optical rectification in the asymmetric case. ► Change in the absorption coefficient as a function of the height of barriers.