Valence band mixing in GaAs-(AlGa)As heterostructures.

01 January 1985

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In optical emission from electrons confined to two dimensions, the component with polarization normal to the planes was observed to be unexpectedly strong. This implies a large breakdown of the point-group symmetry usually associated with the highest occupied valence stated. Estimates of many-body interaction and symmetry-breaking mechanisms within the effective mass theory are unable to account for this phenomenon.