Self-consistent polaron scattering rates in quasi-one-dimensional structures

Abstract

We calculate the polaron self-energy in quantum-wire structures. We use the Fock approximation and consider the interaction of electrons and polar optic phonons in GaAs wires of different sizes at 300 K and solve for the self-energy iteratively. The result, Σ(E,k), is presented as a function of both E and k. We compare ImΣ with a simple first-order calculation using Fermi’s ‘‘golden rule’’ to investigate the importance of higher-order quantum effects. A constant broadening of the density of states has been included in Fermi’s ‘‘golden rule’’ and is successful in reproducing the correct scattering rate.