Linear and nonlinear intersubband optical absorption in double triangular quantum wells

The linear and the third-order nonlinear optical absorptions in the asymmetric double triangular quantum wells (DTQWs) are investigated theoretically. The dependence of the optical absorption on the right-well width of the DTQWs is studied, and the influence of the applied electric field on the optical absorption is also taken into account. The analytical expressions of the linear and the nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are obtained by using the compact density-matrix approach and the iterative method. The numerical calculations are presented for the typical GaAs/AlxGa1-xAs asymmetric DTQWs. The results show that the linear as well as the nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are not a monotonous function of the right-well width, but have complex relationships with it. Moreover, the calculated results also reveal that applying an electric field to the DTQWs with a thinner right-well can enhance the linear optical absorption but has no prominent influence on the nonlinear optical absorption. In addition, the total optical absorption is strongly dependent oil the incident optical intensity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.