Stability of optically-active charged excitons in quasi-two dimensional systems

A negatively charged quasi-two dimensional exciton ($X^-$) is solved exactly numerically in the presence of a uniform perpendicular B-field. Various quasi-two dimensional geometries are studied. The charge distribution of the $X^-$ parallel to the B-field is found to be crucial in determining the stability of the optically-active $X^-$ and hence its photoluminescence (PL) signature. The theory provides a quantitative explanation of recent experimental results obtained for a GaAs quantum well. Effects are found which cannot be described within a lowest Landau level approximation. PACS: 78.20.Ls 78.66.-w 73.20.Dx