Abstract: The linear and nonlinear optical absorptions in square tangent quantum well are studied. Analytic forms of the linear and third-order nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are derived using the compact density matrix approach method. Based on this model, the numerical results are presented for a typical AlGaAs/GaAs square tangent quantum well. The calculated results show the shape of the quantum well and the incident optical intensity have great influence on the optical absorption coefficients in square tangent quantum well.

Key words: nonlinear optics, square tangent quantum well, optical absorption, density matrix approach