HgTe quantum wells (QWs) are two-dimensional semiconductor systems that change their properties at the critical thickness dc, corresponding to the band inversion and topological phase transition. The motivation of this work was to study magnetotransport properties of HgTe QWs with thickness approaching dc, and examine them as potential candidates for quantum Hall effect (QHE) resistance standards. We show that in the case of d > dc (inverted QWs), the quantization is influenced by coexistence of topological helical edge states and QHE chiral states. However, at d ≈ dc, where QW states exhibit a graphene-like band structure, an accurate Hall resistance quantization in low magnetic fields (B ≤ 1.4 T) and at relatively high temperatures (T ≥ 1.3 K) may be achieved. We observe wider and more robust quantized QHE plateaus for holes, which suggests—in accordance with the “charge reservoir” model—a pinning of the Fermi level in the valence band region. Our analysis exhibits advantages and drawbacks of HgTe QWs for quantum metrology applications, as compared to graphene and GaAs counterparts.

Nous présentons un système de supervision dédié aux centrales photovoltaïques des particuliers reliées au réseau d'énergie. Le module est piloté par un microcontrôleur, qui lit les informations relatives à la production d'électricité à partir du compteur et de l'onduleur de production. Ces données sont ensuite enregistrées automatiquement, à intervalles réguliers et de manière pérenne, sur une carte SD intégrée au module. Cet enregistreur a deux fonctions principales : informer et alerter. En effet, les données enregistrées sont consultables à tout moment par internet sous forme de graphes sur des pages web, pour connaître les productions journalières, mensuelles ou annuelles. Aussi, ce système autonome peut alerter, via l'envoi d'un SMS (Short Message Service) ou d'un email, en cas de problème détecté par l’onduleur de production. Ce projet propose une interface simple d'utilisation, pratique et évolutive pour la supervision d'une centrale photovoltaïque.

InSe is a promising material in many aspects where the role of excitons is decisive. Here we report the sequential appearance in its luminescence of the exciton, the biexciton, and the P-band of the exciton-exciton scattering while the excitation power increases. The strict energy and momentum conservation rules of the P-band are used to reexamine the exciton binding energy. The new value >= 20 meV is markedly higher than the currently accepted one (14 meV), being however well consistent with the robustness of the excitons up to room temperature. A peak controlled by the Sommerfeld factor is found near the bandgap (similar to 1.36 eV). Our findings supported by theoretical calculations taking into account the anisotropic material parameters question the pure three-dimensional character of the exciton in InSe, assumed up to now. The refined character and parameters of the exciton are of paramount importance for the successful application of InSe in nanophotonics.

The features of terahertz photoluminescence and magnetoabsorption in magnetic fields up to 16 T in threelayer InAs/GaSb/InAs quantum wells with a band structure corresponding to a “two-dimensional semimetal” are studied. The comparison of the positions and amplitudes of the photoluminescence lines with the theoretical calculations of oscillator strengths for interband and intraband transitions performed using the eight-band Kane Hamiltonian indicates the existence of a nonradiative recombination channel associated with the overlap of the conduction and valence bands. The energies of interband and intraband Landau level transitions observed in the magnetoabsorption spectra are in good agreement with theoretical calculations, which confirms the predicted band structure.