Emission of transverse acoustic phonons by two-dimensional electrons due to heterointerface vibrations

A mechanism of two-dimensional (2D) electron interaction with acoustic phonons due to heterointerface vibrations is predicted in quantum structures. This mechanism originates from the fact that acoustic phonons induce vibrations of heterointerface boundaries and, hence, the modulation of electron quantization energies. For such a mechanism the electron interaction with transverse acoustic modes is not forbidden. We have calculated the emission rates of transverse acoustic phonons by hot 2D electrons in quantum wells. The energy and angular distributions of emitted phonons via this ''macroscopic deformation'' mechanism of coupling are calculated. Comparison to the piezoelectric mechanism of phonon emission is presented.