Optical properties and charge transport in quantum wires

The present review article aims on showing how optical studies, along with numerical methods for the solution of the two dimensional Schrodinger equation for structures with a complex but real geometries, such as quantum wires of different geometrical shapes, contribute to a realistic determination of the mobility of man-made one-dimensional heterostructures. Specifically, the theoretical analysis of experimental photoluminescence and micro-photoluminescence spectra of these structures allows the cartography of the interface roughness. The energy eigenstates and eigenvalues of the system and the cartography of the interface allows for realistic values of the rms value of the roughness fluctuations in depth and the autocorrelation length the determination of the mobility which, at low temperatures, is mainly limited by interface and alloy scattering. The effect of screening and multisubband occupation is also discussed.