Dynamical Instabilities and Deterministic Chaos in Ballistic Electron
Motion in Semiconductor Superlattices
Abstract:
We consider the motion of ballistic electrons within a superlattice
miniband under the influence of an alternating electric field. We show that the interaction
of electrons with the self-consistent electromagnetic field generated by the electron
current may lead to the transition from regular to chaotic dynamics. We estimate the
conditions for the experimental observation of this deterministic chaos and discuss the
similarities of the superlattice system with the other condensed matter and quantum optical
systems.
