Ratchet effects in quantum wells with a lateral superlattice
E. L. Ivchenko, S. D. Ganichev*
A.F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute RAS, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
*Terahertz Center, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
Abstract
Experimental and theoretical work on the ratchet effects in quantum wells
with a lateral superlattice excited by alternating electric fields of
terahertz frequency range is reviewed. We
discuss the Seebeck ratchet effect and a helicity driven photocurrents
and show that the photocurrent generation
is based on the combined action of a spatially periodic in-plane potential
and a spatially modulated light.