The Auger recombination rate is larger in a GaSb quantum well than in bulk GaSb

The band-to-band Auger recombination rate in bulk GaSb and in a GaSb quantum well is calculated. It turns out to be larger in the quantum well because the threshold of the Auger process is located at the band edge where the density of states is larger in the quantum well than in bulk. A simple picture is developed to illustrate the physics of the Auger processes in bulk and quantum-well direct-band-gap semiconductors. With this picture, we propose that the composition-disorder-induced band mixing should be considered in order to explain the unusual behavior of the Auger process in an InGaAsP quantum-well structure.