Miniband formation in asymmetric double-quantum-well superlattice structures

We report on a type of semiconductor quantum structure that combines the sharp optical properties of multiple quantum wells and the transport properties of superlattices. By using coupled asymmetric double quantum wells built with a narrow well having a single bound electron state resonant with an excited state of a wider well, miniband formation is achieved through the hybridized extended states resulting from these overlapping wave functions, but the ground states of the wide wells remain localized as in the case of multiple quantum wells.