Theory of electronic structure in superlattices

This review begins with a survey of various methods of calculating the subband structures of semiconductor superlattices, showing the complementary nature of the self-consistent potential approach and the bulk-based empirical approach. The nature of the subbands is described in terms of a group theory analysis. Finally, as an example, the subbands of the GaAs/AlAs superlattice are synthesized from the results of computations and of experiments. Physical pictures for key features, such as the fundamental gap and various valley mixings, are explored.