LEAD SALT QUANTUM EFFECT STRUCTURES

Lead salt (V-VI) compounds have been grown epitaxially by a variety of growth techniques, such as molecular-beam epitaxy and hot-wall epitaxy. Recently, compositional superlattices and quantum-well heterostructures have been grown that exhibit strong quantum optical effects. These structures have been used to fabricate midinfrared diode lasers with greatly improved operating temperatures. Thus, it appears that these devices will continue to maintain a significant advantage over II-VI and III-V compound diode lasers. Doping superlattices have been made which possess enhanced minority carier properties. Ferromagnetic ordering in PbSnTe-MnTe alloys suggests potential areas for future work in magnetic field sensitivity devices. Lead salt quantum-effect structures is included.