title: Optical approach for determining strain anisotropy in quantum wells.
abstract: Anisotropic in-plane strain arises in quantum-well systems by design or unintentionally. We propose two methods of measuring the in-plane strain anisotropy based on the optical polarization anisotropy that arises with anisotropic in-plane strain. One method uses purely optical means to determine the strain anisotropy in quantum wells under a compressive strain that is spatially varying. A second approach, applicable to quantum wells under tensile strain or with strain that does not vary with position, requires the application of a uniaxial in-plane stress. Although the second method is experimentally more difficult, it allows analysis of systems that would otherwise be inaccessible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, 572M Holloway Road, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland 21402, USA. biermann@usna.edu
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Biermann
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diaz-Barriga
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Rabinovich