First-order intervalley scattering in low-dimensional systems

The intervalley phonon scattering rate in one- and two-dimensional electron gases is calculated for the case in which the transition matrix element is of first order in the phonon wave vector. This type of interaction is important in silicon at low temperature. The interaction between electrons and bulk phonons is considered in the standard golden rule approach by including the contribution of the components of phonon wave vector in the confinement direction(s). This process makes possible the transition between different subbands, and the resulting total scattering rate differs significantly from the rate commonly used in Si quantum wells.