Two-dimensional electrons occupying multiple valleys in AlAs

Two-dimensional electrons in AlAs quantum wells occupy multiple conduction-band minima at the X-points of the Brillouin zone. These valleys have large effective mass and g -factor compared to the standard GaAs electrons, and are also highly anisotropic. With proper choice of well width and by applying symmetry-breaking strain in the plane, one can control the occupation of different valleys thus rendering a system with tuneable effective mass, g -factor, Fermi contour anisotropy, and valley degeneracy. Here we review some of the rich physics that this system has allowed us to explore. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)