Serpentine superlattice quantum-wire arrays of (Al,Ga)As grown on vicinal GaAs substrates

A serpentine superlattice quantum-wire array avoids the tilt sensitivity of a tilted superlattice and promises significant 1D confinement at the 10 nm scale. Transmission electron micrographs confirm the intended geometry. Three independent polarization measurements, an energy shift, and the light-hole--heavy-hole splitting at 1.4 K, when compared with theory demonstrate 1D valence band states and 2D conduction band states. All five measurements are explained by lateral Alₓ{Ga}_{1{{-}}x}$As wells and barriers of x=0.12 and 0.21, respectively, thus characterizing the step-flow growth.