The effect of the depolarization field on the nonlinear intersubband absorption spectrum of a rectangular quantum well (described by the two-subband model) is discussed. Calculations are performed in the framework of the density-matrix formulation with use of the relaxation-time approximation. Obtained results show that the depolarization effect not only shifts the peak by an amount depending on the intensity of the incident light but also leads to a significant distortion (asymmetry) of the line shape.

• Received 23 July 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.3995