Size effects in Auger recombination for InGaAs quantum-wire structures

A theoretical investigation of Auger recombination in lattice-matched InGaAs/InGaAlAs quantum-wire structures is presented. The valence band structure is calculated by using a four-band Luttinger-Kohn Hamiltonian. CHCC, CHHH, CHHL and CHHS Auger processes are considered with the excited carrier being either in a confined (bound) state of the quantum wire, or an unconfined (unbound) state. The model uses Fermi statistics as well as a revaluation of the Coulomb interaction overlap integral for the calculation of the Auger recombination rate. Bound-unbound Auger processes are proven to be important nonradiative recombination mechanism in quantum-wire systems. It is also found that the Auger coefficient is much more sensitive to the well width in quantum-wire structures than in quantum-well structures.<>