Interband Optical Absorption in Semiconductor Quantum Wells and Superlattices: A Unified Effective-Mass Analysis of Confinement, Tunneling, and Miniband Dispersion

Mardonbek Xaldarbekovich Nasirov, Khusanboy Mannopovich Sulaymonov, Abdusattor Ortiqovich Umarov, Tokhirbek Imomaliyevich Rakhmonov, Sherali Xasanovich Karimov, Abdulla Tursunalievich Mirsodikov, Shaxnoza Shakirovna Axmadjanova, Voxob Rustamovich Rasulov

Abstract


A unified theoretical analysis of interband optical absorption in semiconductor quantum wells and superlattices is presented within the effective-mass approximation and the envelope-wave-function formalism. The carrier energy spectra are derived for isolated quantum wells with both infinite and finite potential barriers and then extended to periodic superlattices, where interwell tunneling leads to miniband formation. On this basis, analytical expressions are obtained for the optical transition probability, the optical density of states, and the absorption coefficient for direct interband transitions. The analysis shows that isolated quantum wells exhibit a confinement-induced blue shift of the absorption edge together with a characteristic step-like spectral dependence originating from subband quantization and the two-dimensional optical density of states. In contrast, superlattices display a broadened and smoothed near-edge absorption profile due to miniband dispersion caused by coupling between adjacent wells. The results clarify how structural confinement, barrier parameters, and interwell coupling jointly determine the spectral response of low-dimensional semiconductor heterostructures. The developed framework provides a physically transparent basis for the spectral engineering of quantum-confined optoelectronic materials and devices.

Keywords


interband optical absorption; semiconductor quantum wells; semiconductor superlattices; quantum confinement; miniband dispersion; effective-mass approximation; optical density of states; semiconductor heterostructures

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33180/InfMIDEM2026.201

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mardonbek Xaldarbekovich Nasirov, Khusanboy Mannopovich Sulaymonov, Abdusattor Ortiqovich Umarov, Tokhirbek Imomaliyevich Rakhmonov, Sherali Xasanovich Karimov, Abdulla Tursunalievich Mirsodikov, Shaxnoza Shakirovna Axmadjanova, Voxob Rustamovich Rasulov

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