Subpicosecond photon-echo spectroscopy on GaAs/AlAs short-period superlattices

We present subpicosecond time-resolved four-wave-mixing studies on GaAs/AlAs short-period superlattices having different miniband widths. Photon echoes are observed as a consequence of the inhomogeneous broadening of the excitonic resonance. In addition, the photon-echo signal exhibits periodic modulations as a function of the time delay between the excitation laser pulses. Free excitons and excitons bound to neutral acceptors are identified as the underlying three-level system leading to the observed photon-echo quantum beats. From the beat period we can directly infer the dissociation energy of the bound exciton. In accordance with theory, we find that the dissociation energy decreases with increasing miniband width, i.e., when the excitons become less confined. In addition, we find that the dephasing rate of bound excitons is about one order of magnitude less than that of free excitons and is mainly determined by energy relaxation.