Inelastic lifetimes of confined two-component electron systems in semiconductor quantum-wire and quantum-well structures

Lian Zheng and S. Das Sarma
Phys. Rev. B 54, 13908 – Published 15 November 1996
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Abstract

We calculate Coulomb-scattering lifetimes of electrons in two-subband quantum wires and in double-layer quantum wells by obtaining the quasiparticle self-energy within the framework of the random-phase approximation for the dynamical dielectric function. We show that, in contrast to a single-subband quantum wire, the scattering rate in a two-subband quantum wire contains contributions from both particle-hole excitations and plasmon excitations. For double-layer quantum-well structures, we examine individual contributions to the scattering rate from quasiparticle as well as acoustic and optical plasmon excitations at different electron densities and layer separations. We find that the acoustic plasmon contribution in the two-component electron system does not introduce any qualitatively new correction to the low-energy inelastic lifetime, and, in particular, does not produce the linear energy dependence of carrier scattering rate as observed in the normal state of high-Tc superconductors. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

  • Received 27 June 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.54.13908

©1996 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Lian Zheng and S. Das Sarma

  • Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-4111

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Issue

Vol. 54, Iss. 19 — 15 November 1996

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