Electric-field-induced mid-infrared birefringence of the double quantum wells

Abstract

Birefringence in double tunnel-coupled GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells was studied in the mid-infrared spectral range close to the intersubband resonance. Phase-sensitive optical studies allowed us to deduce simultaneously the differences of the refraction index and absorption coefficient for the normal waves polarized in the plane of the structure and along the structure growth, including electric-field induced effects. The optical absorption data are in a good agreement with the direct optical transmission measurements.