Resonant carrier dynamics in strongly biassed superlattices

Abstract

We study coherent electron dynamics in a biassed undriven ideal semiconductor superlattice coupled to the continuum, near energy level anticrossings. In particular, we examine the dependence of wavepacket dynamical characteristics on electric field detuning, and investigate mixed regimes involving a superposition of energy level anticrossings showing both Rabi oscillations and resonant tunnelling. In earlier work [Phys. Rev. B 75 165421 (2007)], Rabi and Zener resonances were shown to have a common origin, and a criteria for the occurrence of either was proposed. The present results allow a better understanding of the nature of an interminiband resonance, which can be useful in the areas of microwave radiation generation and matter manipulation on the particle level, as well as demonstrate an alternative approach to examining electron level structure of a finite superlattice.