Damping of the Franz–Keldysh oscillations in the presence of disorder

Abstract

Franz–Keldysh oscillations of the optical absorption in the presence of short-range disorder are studied theoretically. The magnitude of the effect depends on the relation between the mean-free path in a zero field and the distance between the turning points in electric field. As is adopted in the literature, turning points are the points where the net energy is equal to potential energy. Damping of the Franz–Keldysh oscillations by the disorder develops at high absorption frequency. Effect of damping is amplified by the fact that, that electron and hole are most sensitive to the disorder near the turning points. This is because, near the turning points, velocities of electron and hole turn to zero.