High-quality CMOS compatible n-type SiGe parabolic quantum wells for intersubband photonics at 2.5–5 THz

A parabolic potential that confines charge carriers along the growth direction of quantum wells semiconductor systems is characterized by a single resonance frequency, associated to intersubband transitions. Motivated by fascinating quantum optics applications leveraging on this property, we use the technologically relevant SiGe material system to design, grow, and characterize n-type doped parabolic quantum wells realized by continuously grading Ge-rich Si1−x Gex alloys, deposited on silicon wafers. An extensive structural analysis highlights the capability of the ultra-high-vacuum chemical vapor deposition technique here used to precisely control the quadratic confining potential and the target doping profile. The absorption spectrum, measured by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, revealed a single peak with a full width at half maximum at low and room temperature of about 2 and 5 meV, respectively, associated to degenerate intersubband transitions. The energy of the absorption resonance scales with the inverse of the well width, covering the 2.5–5 THz spectral range, and is almost independent of temperature and doping, as predicted for a parabolic confining potential. On the basis of these results, we discuss the perspective observation of THz strong light–matter coupling in this silicon compatible material system, leveraging on intersubband transitions embedded in all-semiconductor microcavities.