Effects of crossed electric and magnetic fields on the interband optical absorption spectra of variably spaced semiconductor superlattices

The interband optical absorption spectra of a GaAs–Ga_1−xAl_xAs variably spaced semiconductor superlattice under crossed in-plane magnetic and growth-direction applied electric fields are theoretically investigated. The electronic structure, transition strengths and interband absorption coefficients are analyzed within the weak and strong magnetic-field regimes. A dramatic quenching of the absorption coefficient is observed, in the weak magnetic-field regime, as the applied electric field is increased, in good agreement with previous experimental measurements performed in a similar system under growth-direction applied electric fields. A decrease of the resonant tunneling in the superlattice is also theoretically obtained in the strong magnetic-field regime. Moreover, in this case, we found an interband absorption coefficient weakly dependent on the applied electric field. Present theoretical results suggest that an in-plane magnetic field may be used to tune the optical properties of variably spaced semiconductor superlattices, with possible future applications in solar cells and magneto-optical devices.