Polarization dependence of four-wave-mixing signals in quantum wells

Recent transient four-wave-mixing experiments in the two-pulse photon-echo configuration performed on GaAs quantum wells have yielded the surprising result that in some samples the T₂ time obtained from the polarization decay can be shorter for cross-polarized input fields than for parallel input fields. A concomitant change from photon-echo to free-induction-decay behavior has also been observed. A phenomenological model is presented which explains these observations by means of a disorder-induced coupling of the σ⁺ and σ^- exciton transitions which is inhomogeneous in coupling strength. Such coupling also leads to a remarkable change in the light-hole--heavy-hole exciton quantum beat phase as a function of pulse delay for a critical relative orientation of the polarization of the incident pulses. Experimental observations of this effect are presented to support the validity of the model.