A. M. Kadykov

Time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy of narrow gap Hg1−xCdxTe/CdyHg1−yTe quantum well heterostructures

Photoluminescence (PL) spectra and kinetics of narrow gap Hg1−xCdxTe/CdyHg1−yTe quantum well (QW) heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy technique are studied. Interband PL spectra are observed from 18 K up to the room temperature. Time resolved studies reveal an additional PL line with slow kinetics (7 μs at 18 K) related to deep defect states in barrier layers. These states act as traps counteracting carrier injection into QWs. The decay time of PL signal from QW layers is about 5 μs showing that gain can be achieved at wavelengths 10–20 μm by placing such QWs in HgCdTe structures with waveguides.

Temperature-driven massless Kane fermions in HgCdTe crystals

Bulk films and heterostructures based on HgCdTe compounds can be engineered to fabricate “gapped-at-will” structures. Therefore, 1D [1], 2D [2] and even 3D [3] massless particles can be observed in topological phase transitions driven by intrinsic (quantum well thickness, Cd content) and external (magnetic field, temperature or pressure) physical parameters. So far, the phases of 2D [1] and 3D [4] topological insulator have already been experimentally demonstrated in HgCdTe-based heterostructures. More recently, clear experimental evidence of the existence of 3D electronic states with conical-like spectrum was obtained in HgCdTe bulk films at specific Cd content [3]. These 3D massless particles, called Kane fermions, have unique symmetry properties, which are not equivalent to any well-known case of massless particles in the ultrarelativistic limit of the quantum electrodynamics.

Temperature-driven single-valley Dirac fermions in HgTe quantum wells

We report on the temperature-dependent magnetospectroscopy of two HgTe/CdHgTe quantum wells below and above the critical well thickness dc. Our results, obtained in magnetic fields up to 16 T and s temperature range from 2 to 150 K, clearly indicate a change in the band-gap energy with temperature. A quantum well wider than dc evidences a temperature-driven transition from topological insulator to semiconductor phases. At a critical temperature of 90 K, the merging of inter- and intraband transitions in weak magnetic fields clearly specifies the formation of a gapless state, revealing the appearance of single-valley massless Dirac fermions with a velocity of 5.6×105ms−1. For both quantum wells, the energies extracted from the experimental data are in good agreement with calculations on the basis of the eight-band Kane Hamiltonian with temperature-dependent parameters.

Long wavelength stimulated emission up to 9.5 μm from HgCdTe quantum well heterostructures

Stimulated emission from waveguide HgCdTe structures with several quantum wells inside waveguide core is demonstrated at wavelengths up to 9.5 μm. Photoluminescence line narrowing down to kT energy, as well as superlinear rise in its intensity evidence the onset of the stimulated emission, which takes place under optical pumping with intensity as small as ∼0.1 kW/cm2 at 18 K and 1 kW/cm2 at 80 K. One can conclude that HgCdTe structures potential for long-wavelength lasers is not exhausted.

Long wavelength superluminescence from narrow gap HgCdTe epilayer at 100 K

Experimental evidence of long wavelength superluminescence (SL), i.e., amplification of spontaneous emission, in narrow gap HgCdTe bulk epitaxial film at 100 K is reported. Photoluminescence line narrowing is observed at 8.4 μm as pump power increases. However, plasmonic contribution to dielectric function is shown to be detrimental for light confinement at high pumping intensities, limiting the SL line intensity growth. The design of the structures optimal for obtaining stimulated emission in 10–36 μm range is further discussed.

HgCdTe-based heterostructures for terahertz photonics

Due to their specific physical properties, HgCdTe-based heterostructures are expected to play an important role in terahertz photonic systems. Here, focusing on gated devices presenting inverted band ordering, we evidence an enhancement of the terahertz photoconductive response close to the charge neutrality point and at the magnetic field driven topological phase transition. We also show the ability of these heterostructures to be used as terahertz imagers. Regarding terahertz emitters, we present results on stimulated emission of HgCdTe heterostructures in their conventional semiconductor state above 30 THz, discussing the physical mechanisms involved and promising routes towards the 5–15 THz frequency domain.

Investigation of possibility of VLWIR lasing in HgCdTe based heterostructures

The optical properties of a number of Hg1-xCdxTe bulk epilayers (x = 0.152 - 0.23) and heterostructures with quantum wells (QW) based on narrow gap HgCdTe are examined aiming to reveal the prospects of such structures for laser development in long wave infrared and very long wave infrared ranges. Experimental evidence of long wavelength superluminescence, i.e. amplification of spontaneous emission, at 8.4 μm in narrow gap HgCdTe bulk epitaxial film at 100 K is reported. Employing heterostructures with QW is demonstrated to be promissory for furthering the radiation wavelength to 10 - 30 μm range.

Long-wavelength stimulated emission and carrier lifetimes in HgCdTe-based waveguide structures with quantum wells

The interband photoconductivity and photoluminescence in narrow-gap HgCdTe-based waveguide structures with quantum wells (QWs) (designed for long-wavelength stimulated emission under optical pumping) are investigated. The photoconductivity relaxation times in n-type structures reach several microseconds, due to which stimulated emission at a wavelength of 10.2 μm occurs at a low threshold pump intensity (~100 W/cm2) at 20 K. In the p-type structures obtained by annealing (to increase the mercury vacancy concentration), even spontaneous emission from the QWs is not detected because of a dramatic decrease in the carrier lifetime with respect to Shockley–Read–Hall nonradiative recombination.

Terahertz imaging of Landau levels in HgTe-based topological insulators

We report on sub-terahertz photoconductivity under the magnetic field of a two dimensional topological insulator based on HgTe quantum wells. We perform a detailed visualization of Landau levels by means of photoconductivity measured at different gate voltages. This technique allows one to determine a critical magnetic field, corresponding to topological phase transition from inverted to normal band structure, even in almost gapless samples. The comparison with realistic calculations of Landau levels reveals a smaller role of bulk inversion asymmetry in HgTe quantum wells than it was assumed previously.

Terahertz detection of magnetic field-driven topological phase transition in HgTe-based transistors

We report on terahertz photoconductivity under magnetic field up to 16 T of field effect transistor based on HgTe quantum well (QW) with an inverted band structure. We observe pronounced cyclotron resonance and Shubnikov-de Haas-like oscillations, indicating a high mobility electron gas in the transistor channel. We discover that nonlinearity of the transistor channel allows for observation of characteristic features in photoconductivity at critical magnetic field corresponding to the phase transition between topological quantum spin Hall and trivial quantum Hall states in HgTe QW. Our results pave the way towards terahertz topological field effect transistors.