Tunnelling in quantum superlattices with variable lacunarity

Quantum fractal superlattices are microelectronic devices consisting of a series of thin layers of two semiconductor materials deposited alternately on each other over a substrate following the rules of construction of a fractal set, here, a symmetrical polyadic Cantor fractal. The scattering properties of electrons in these superlattices may be modeled by using that of quantum particles in piecewise constant potential wells. The twist plots representing the reflection coefficient as function of the lacunarity parameter show the appearance of black curves with perfectly transparent tunnelling which may be classified as vertical, arc, and striation nulls. Approximate analytical formulae for these reflection-less curves are derived using the transfer matrix method. Comparison with the numerical results show their good accuracy. PACS numbers: 03.65.Nk, 05.45.Df Submitted to: Eur. J. Phys. ∗ To whom correspondence should be addressed ([email protected]) Tunnelling in quantum superlattices 2