superlattice
Quick Summary
A superlattice is a material composed of repeating layers of different elements or compounds, arranged in a specific, ordered structure. This layered arrangement creates a new, artificial crystal structure with unique electronic and photonic properties.12
These properties arise because the dimensions of the layers are comparable to the wavelengths of fundamental excitations like electrons and photons. This confinement leads to quantum mechanical effects that influence how these excitations behave within the material.2
Superlattices are crucial in modern electronics and telecommunications, enabling the development of devices like semiconductor lasers and resonant tunneling diodes. They are created using techniques such as epitaxy, where thin layers are grown one on top of another with precise control over their composition and thickness.23
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