Self-consistent electronic-structure calculation of InP/InxGa1−xAs effective-mass quantum wells: The influence of a continuous spectrum

A procedure for the self-consistent calculation of the electronic structure of effective-mass quantum wells is described. The procedure uses a parametrized electrostatic potential, and also takes into account the exchange-correlation effects within the local-density approximation. Numerical calculations, performed for InP/${\mathrm{In}}_{0.69}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.31}$As wells at differing temperatures and donor doping levels, indicate that the self-consistent procedure is indeed necessary if reasonably accurate calculations of the charge density, potential, etc., are required.