Short-period intrinsic Stark GaN∕AlGaN superlattice as a Bloch oscillator

We discuss the properties of AlGaN∕GaN superlattice (SL) related to the feasibility of a terahertz-range oscillator. The distortion of the conduction-band profile by the polarization fields has been taken into account. We have calculated the conduction-band offset between the pseudomorphic AlGaN barrier and the GaN quantum well, the first miniband width and energy dispersion, as functions of Al content in the barrier. As the short-period SL miniband energy dispersion contains contributions from next to nearest neighbors, it causes anharmonic electron oscillations at the multiples of the fundamental Bloch frequency. The Al content and SL period that favor high-frequency oscillations have been determined.