Energy loss of two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs-AlGaAs multiple quantum wells by screened electron-polar optic-phonon interaction

Abstract

Experimental data on the variation of the rate of energy loss of two-dimensional electrons with electron temperature in GaAs-AlGaAs multiple quantum wells have been found to be substantially lower than the values calculated from available theory. We have modified the theory to include overlap function, degeneracy, and screening of electron-polar optic-phonon coupling. The Landau damping of the plasma by single particle excitations and coupling between phonons and plasma are, however, neglected. It is found that inclusion of overlap and screening leads to good agreement between theory and experiment.