QUASI-CONTINUUM OF METAL ELECTRONIC STATES AND THE ELECTRONIC-PROPERTIES OF SEMICONDUCTOR-METAL-SEMICONDUCTOR HETEROSTRUCTURES

We present a self-consistent theory of the electronic properties of semiconductor-metal-semiconductor (SMS) heterostructures. This is based upon the method of Greens function within the framework of the tight-binding approximation. The electron dispersion relations are then calculated for a symmetrical SMS system. We discover that the entire electron spectrum presents the character of a two-state system including metal-like states (built-in metal band) and metal-induced semiconductorlike states. We discuss the relevance of this feature to the determination of SMS basic electronic properties. © 1990 The American Physical Society.