Wavefunction analysis and optical nutation in magnetized semiconductor quantum wires exhibiting multiple valence subbands

The energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions have been obtained for a GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wire structure with multiple valence subbands, subjected to an external magnetic field. The hole wavefunctions are calculated by numerical diagonalization of Luttinger Hamiltonian in an appropriately chosen basis. The electron-hole wavefunctions thus obtained are used in conjunction with effective semiconductor Bloch equations for the study of optical coherent transient effects like optical nutation. The results show squeezing of wavefunctions with increasing magnetic field while band mixing effects lead to overlapping of peaks. The corresponding optical nutation curves show an increase in nutation frequency with magnetic field while band mixing effects are revealed through multiple oscillations. (c) 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.