Resonant Raman scattering spectra in a ZnCdSe/ZnSe structure with a quantum well and open nanowires

Abstract

Resonance Raman scattering (RS) spectra of a ZnCdSe/ZnSe sample containing a single quantum well and quantum well-based open nanowires were studied at T=300 K. The longitudinal optical (LO) phonons involved in the formation of the observed spectra of the quantum-well and nanowire regions differ noticeably in energy. The LO phonon energies in the structures under study were calculated taking into account the compositional effect (doping of Cd into ZnSe) and biaxial strain. When excited in the exciton resonance region, RS is shown to occur via free (extended) excitonic states with the involvement of LO phonons of the ZnCdSe strained layer with final wave vectors near the Brillouin zone center. When excited below the excitonic resonance in the ZnCdSe layer, resonance scattering via localized exciton states provides a noticeable contribution to the observed RS lines. Because of the finite size of a localized state, phonons with large wave vectors are involved in these scattering processes. The RS lines produced under excitation in the excitonic region of the thick barrier layers are due to scattering from the ZnSe barrier phonons.