heavyhole

Heavyhole is a term most commonly encountered in semiconductor physics, where it is used to describe a type of valence-band hole with a relatively large effective mass compared with the light-hole state. In typical cubic semiconductors such as GaAs or SiGe, the valence band splits into heavy-hole and light-hole subbands due to spin-orbit coupling and quantum confinement. The heavy-hole states correspond to total angular momentum j = 3/2 with magnetic quantum numbers m_j = ±3/2, and they possess a larger in-plane effective mass than the light-hole states (m_h* > m_l*).

In devices, heavy-hole states influence optoelectronic properties and spin dynamics. Under strain or quantum confinement, the heavy-hole character can be modified, affecting transition selection rules and polarization of emitted or absorbed light. In quantum wells, wires, and dots, heavy-hole states play a role in carrier dynamics and can be harnessed for optically addressable spin qubits due to strong spin-orbit coupling and potential for long coherence times.

The term "heavy hole" is the standard form in most textbooks; "heavyhole" as a single word is unusual and typically represents a typographic variant or a field-specific nickname. The distinction between heavy-hole and light-hole is a foundational concept in valence-band theory and remains relevant for designing heterostructures and interpreting spectroscopic data.

See also: Light hole, Valence band, Spin-orbit coupling, Quantum well, Spin qubit.