Optical spectroscopy of CdHgTe/CdTe quantum wells and superlattices

The spectroscopic properties of CdHgTe/CdTe heterostructures are studied using photoluminescence, absorption and, for the first time, Fourier transform photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. The analysis of these data shows that the line position can be well predicted from the confined carrier levels. The absorption spectrum is fitted with a theoretical calculation up to the second transition energy. The linewidth is dominated, in thin wells, by a well width fluctuation of the order of plusminus1 monolayer, while in wide wells it is due to alloy fluctuations and defect-induced broadening mechanisms.