Abstract

We review three recent experiments in which we have used picosecond optical techniques to investigate quantities relevant to high field transport in semiconductors. We will discuss (1) measurement of the drift velocity of minority carriers in GaAs quantum wells by a time-of-flight technique, (2) a simultaneous measurement of the luminescence spectra which allows us to measure the carrier distribution function and investigate the energy exchange rate between electrons and holes and (3) an optical imaging experiment which demonstrates the existence of negative absolute mobility for the minority carrier in modulation-doped quantum wells. The momentum scattering rate between electrons and holes is determined form this experiment.

© 1987 Optical Society of America