Observation of optical phonon instability induced by drifting electrons in semiconductor nanostructures

Abstract

We have experimentally proven the Cerenkov generation of optical phonons by drifting electrons in a semiconductor. We observe an instability of the polar optical phonons in nanoscale semiconductors that occurs when electrons are accelerated to very high velocities by intense electric fields. The instability is observed when the electron drift velocity is larger than the phase velocity of optical phonons and rather resembles a “sonic boom” for optical phonons. The effect is demonstrated in p–i–n semiconductor nanostructures by using subpicosecond Raman spectroscopy.