  We study the energy-transfer rate for electrons in a double-quantum-well
structure, where the layers are coupled through screened Coulomb interactions.
The energy-transfer rate between the layers (similar to the Coulomb drag effect
in which the momentum transfer rate is considered) is calculated as functions
of electron densities, interlayer spacing, the temperature difference of the
2DEGs, and the electron drift velocity in the drive layer. We employ the full
wave vector and frequency dependent random-phase approximation at finite
temperature to describe the effective interlayer Coulomb interaction. We find
that the collective modes (plasmons) of the system play a dominant role in the
energy transfer rates. The contribution of optical phonons to the transfer
rates through the phonon mediated Coulomb coupling mechanism has also been
considered.
