Optical properties in complex-structured nanometric quantum wells: Photoluminescence, photoluminescence excitation, and Stokes shift

Systems in which one or more directions are in the nanometric space scale exhibit significantly some peculiar phenomena and processes. We consider here the case of nanometric quantum wells with complex structure, displaying fractal-like characteristics, which are part of semiconductor heterostructures. An extensive theoretical study of the optical properties of photoluminescence and excited photoluminescence, and then involving absorption and the question of emergence of the so-called Stokes shift that is observed in some cases are performed. The results are compared with some experimental data. This is of relevance for opening up the possibility to use optical measurements to perform a (nondestructive) quality control of samples grown under different methods and protocols.