Numerical spurious solutions in the effective mass approximation

We have characterized a class of spurious solutions that appears when using the finite difference method to solve the effective mass approximation equations. We find that the behavior of these solutions as predicted by our model shows excellent agreement with numerical results. Using this interpretation we find a set of analytical expressions for conditions that the Luttinger parameters must satisfy to avoid spurious solutions. Finally, we use these conditions to check commonly used sets of parameters for their potential for generating this class of spurious solutions. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.