Application of microwave detection of the Shubnikov-de Haas effect in two-dimensional systems

Microwave detection of the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) effect as a contact-free characterization technique for different types of two-dimensional semiconductor structures is explored in the low magnetic field region. The detection technique and the data analysis are described. The character and relevance of the single-particle relaxation time that can be detected by this technique are distinguished from the usual transport scattering time. The measured values of the carrier concentration and single-particle relaxation time agree with electrical measurements, while the problem of making contacts on the structure is avoided. Uncertainties in the analysis for the single-particle relaxation time are discussed. Cyclotron resonance, optically detected cyclotron resonance, and magneto-photoluminescence are applied as other contact-free techniques on the same samples. The results and suitability of these techniques are compared with the microwave detection of the SdH effect.