Density Matrix Simulations of Semiconductor Devices

Abstract

Since the pioneering work of (1973), the experimental studies of (1983) on double-barrier resonant tunneling devices, and the superlattice detector work of (1987), there has been growing interest in barrier/well devices and in the fundamental underpinnings of quantum device operation. Further, following the work (1986), there has also been rising interest in the basic physics accompanying the (1959) effect in heterostructures. Indeed, major advances in material technology has enabled device scientists to conjecture about new device structures that both test and illustrate basic fundamental quantum physics issues of few and many particle systems. For example the issue of nonlocality now finds its way into discussions of transport in quantum devices. Nonlocality in classical physics is illustrated by the coulomb interaction that decreases as the square of the distance between particles. In quantum mechanics there are additional interactions that do not necessarily drop off with distance and these are discussed below.