The influence of external electric field on acoustoelectric effect in a superlattice

Abstract

The dc acoustoelectric current J" induced by the interaction of acoustic phonons with the conducting electrons is calculated. The calculation is done in the hypersound regime where q > I (here q is the acoustic phonon number and is the electron mean free path). The electric field consists of dc field E and a low frequency alternating field El. A nonlinear dependence of J'c on E and El is observed. Depending on the direction of the dc field E the acoustoelectric current can either be positive or negative. At wq = 101'sec-1 and in the absence of E0, jac is 105V - 1. Further increase Of Wq -1 very small and tends to zero at El = 13 x from 101'sec sees a dramatic shoot "up" of Jc. Lastly the acoustoelectric current in the presence of E is modulated by El