Hot-electron luminescence in AlSb

Direct hot-luminescence spectra for AlSb are presented. The luminescence is attributed to recombination on acceptors of hot electrons photocreated from the heavy- and light-hole bands. The acceptor binding energy and the effective masses of light holes and conduction electrons near Γ are deduced from the experimental curves: $E_A$=30±5 meV; $m_{\mathrm{vl}}$=(0.1±0.1)$m_0$; $m_c$=(0.14±0.20)$m_0$. The high degree of circular polarization ($P_c$≃0.42) shows the anisotropy of the momentum distribution and the correlation between the spin and the momentum of the electrons. The dynamics of the electrons in the Γ valley in AlSb shows that the shape of the hot luminescence lines is strongly dependent on the efficiency of electron scattering towards the X valleys.