Electron–optical–phonon scattering in non-square quantum-well structures

Based on the dielectric continuum theory, a novel method is proposed to analyze the electron–optical–phonon scattering rates in quantum wells with varying composition profile. Using the method, electron–phonon scattering rates are obtained as a function of well width for graded quantum-well and parabolic quantum-well structures of Ga1−xAlxAs and compared with those for square quantum-well structures. The method could be powerful for understanding the phonon-related processes in the other structures and designing the quantum-well devices.