Using ensemble Monte Carlo particle modeling we demonstrate that monotonic electric-field distributions in multiple quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) can be unstable. This instability can lead to oscillatory electric-field and charge domains with a period equal to twice the QW structure period. This effect is due to the heating of the electron gas in continuum states resulting in a nonlocal dependence of the capture rate on the electric field.
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Ryzhii et al. (1999) studied this question.