Abstract
The static dielectric properties of superlattices have been calculated as a function of their period for , starting from density-functional theory. The interplay between quantum confinement and local field effects is shown to be crucial. For light polarized in the growth direction it leads to the otherwise surprising justification of the use of a classical effective medium theory, even for the smallest periods. Only the inclusion of both contributions allows in ab initio and in semiempirical calculations to reproduce the experimentally observed birefringence.
- Received 16 April 2002
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.216803
©2002 American Physical Society