Difference between revisions of "Quantum well"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(Created the article - anyone want to help?) |
m (Quantum well moved to User:PMorgan/Quantum well: too much jargon, not clear to the general reader) |
(No difference)
| |
Revision as of 12:21, March 14, 2009
A quantum well is a narrow dip in potential energy, which can be used to store electrons or other charged particles. A quantum well could be created by sandwiching two materials together, such as a thin sheet of metal between two blocks of rubber. An infinitely deep quantum well would have a voltage of 0V in the middle, and infinity in the barriers.
Quantum wells are used in many modern devices, including lasers, light detectors, transistors (the computer you are using right now contains around a billion!). Some of the newest LCD computer monitors use quantum wells to give ultra-fast switching in their backlighting.