Theoretical investigation of excitonic surface states in multilayer organic quantum wells: Radiative decay rates of the first and second surface excitons

A theory of excitonic surface states in multilayer organic quantum wells is developed beyond the nearest-neighbor approximation. Eigenenergies and envelope functions of eigenstates of several kinds of surface states as well as band states are obtained, and the characteristics of surface states are clarified. The difference in super-radiant decay rates of the first and second surface excitons can be explained in the framework of the present theory. The results of numerical calculations are compared to the experimental data for two-dimensional Frenkel excitons in anthracene crystals. © 1996 The American Physical Society.