Collision broadening in the exciton gas outside the electron-hole droplets in Ge

G. A. Thomas, A. Frova, J. C. Hensel, R. E. Miller, P. A. Lee

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Abstract

A broadening of both the recombination luminescence and absorption spectra of indirect excitons in Ge is observed. This broadening is found to be density dependent consistent with an exciton-exciton collision process. An effective exciton collision radius of 220 80 is measured in agreement with theoretical estimates. Density-modulated absorption spectra also indicate an apparent red shift of the exciton energy at high carrier densities. A detailed analysis of the exciton line shape leads to a better understanding of the thermodynamics of the coexisting electron-hole liquid and exciton gas, provides improved values of the binding energy, =1.80.2 meV, and the ground-state energy per pair, EG=-5.90.3 meV, and gives the most nearly complete description of the gas-liquid phase boundary. The complications due to density gradients which arise from surface excitation with be briefly discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1692-1702
Number of pages11
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1976
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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