Growth and studies of Hg1-xCdxTe based low dimensional structures

The band structure of HgTe quantum wells (QWs) has been determined from absorption experiments on superlattices in conjunction with calculations based on an 8 x 8 k (.) p model. The band structure combined with self-consistent Hartree calculations has enabled transport results to be quantitatively explained. Rashba spin-orbit, (SO) splitting has been investigated in n-type modulation doped HgTe QWs by means of Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations (SdH) in gated Hall bars. The heavy hole nature of the H1 conduction subband in QWs with an inverted band structure greatly enhances the Rashba SO splitting, with values up to 17 meV. By analyzing the SdH oscillations of a magnetic two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in modulation-doped n-type Hg1-xMnxTe QWs, we have been able to separate the gate voltage-dependent Rashba SO splitting from the temperature-dependent giant Zeeman splitting, which are of comparable magnitudes. In addition, hot electrons and Mn ions in a magnetic 2DEG have been investigated as a function of current. Nano-scale structures of lower dimensions are planned and experiments on sub-micrometer magneto-transport structures have resulted in the first evidence for ballistic transport in quasi-1D HgTe QW structures. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.