A New Opportunity of Probing Lateral Distortions in Quantum Wells

The in-plane distortions of quantum well structures as revealed by polarised luminescence are studied. It is shown that C2v, distortions induce an extreme anisotropy of the in-plane g factor of quantum confined heavy holes. The anisotropy of the linear polarisation of the photoluminescence turns out to be much less pronounced in structures with a special buffer layer introduced to stop spreading misfit dislocations.