New branch of intersubband plasmons in a nonequilibrium two-layer system

The plasma oscillation spectrum for 2D electrons in a double quantum well is calculated. It is shown that an additional branch of intersubband plasmons can exist without experiencing Landau damping in the case of nonequilibrium population of subbands. In an asymmetric structure, this branch is responsible for both the emergence of instabilities and the possibility of amplification of plasma waves.