Complex band structures of zinc-blende materials

Abstract

A theoretical method is presented for calculating the complex band structures of a solid. Using this method, we have studied the evanescent Bloch functions associated with 14 zinc-blende materials for various crystallographic orientations and directions, and have obtained new insight into the topological structure of the complex bands in solids. The present application of the general method is based on a 10-band nearest-neighbor tight-binding model which is capable of producing realistic band structures for most semiconductors and insulators. The method is conceptually simple and computationally efficient. The evanescent Bloch solutions obtained with the present model can be used to study various electronic properties associated with solid surfaces, interfaces, and superlattices. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.25.605 © 1982 The American Physical Society