Population inversion through resonant interband tunneling

Abstract

We show in this letter that population inversion between subbands in a quantum well can be achieved through resonant interband tunneling. Two basic device configurations based on polytype heterostructures are proposed and analyzed. The estimated population inversion (n2−n1) could be as high as 3×1011/cm2 with a moderate injected current density 104 A/cm2 under a forward bias.