{1 1 1} Quantum wells of dilute nitrides grown on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy

Dilute nitrides are promising alloys in view of extending potential micro- and opto-electronics applications of GaAs technology. Orientation effects on nitrogen incorporation in GaAs have been scarcely addressed. Here, GaAsN on (1 0 0) and on As(B)- and Ga(A)-rich (1 1 1) substrates was grown by molecular beam epitaxy at different substrate temperatures. Nitrogen content measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry as a function of the growth temperature highlights the influence of orientation on nitrogen incorporation. Furthermore, thermal annealing is shown to improve the optical quality of GaAsN quantum wells whatever their substrate orientations.     

Study of post-growth annealing and Ga coverage effects in low-density GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots grown by modified droplet epitaxy

We present a detailed analysis of the Ga coverage and of the post-growth annealing effects on the optical properties of very-low-density self-assembled GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots grown by modified droplet epitaxy. Through theoretical calculation of the QD electronic states, including thermally activated Al–Ga interdiffusion processes, we were able to relate our spectroscopic observations to QD structural properties.     

Photoluminescence and structural properties of GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy under different arsenic pressures

GaInNAs/GaAs quantum wells grown by molecular beam epitaxy under different arsenic pressures have been studied using photoluminescence (PL), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The best optical properties are achieved with the V/III beam equivalent pressure ratio (V/III_BEP) of 10. The PL emission wavelength remains unchanged for 8V/III_BEP12, suggesting that within this range neither the alloy composition nor the nitrogen sticking coefficient is changed. For the lower and higher V/III_BEP ratios the PL wavelength is red-shifted or blue-shifted, respectively. The XRD results indicate that the nitrogen incorporation into the group-V sub-lattice is enhanced at low As pressures and reduced at high As pressures. The PL behaviour can thus be understood as a competition between As and N adatoms in occupying anion lattice sites.     

Formation of InAs quantum dots and wetting layers in GaAs and AlAs analyzed by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy

We have used cross-sectional scanning-tunneling microscopy (X-STM) to compare the formation of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) and wetting layers on AlAs (1 0 0) and GaAs (1 0 0) surfaces. On AlAs we find a larger QD density and smaller QD size than for QDs grown on GaAs under the same growth conditions (500 °C substrate temperature and 1.9 ML indium deposition). The QDs grown on GaAs show both a normal and a lateral gradient in the indium distribution whereas the QDs grown on AlAs show only a normal gradient. The wetting layers on GaAs and AlAs do not show significant differences in their composition profiles. We suggest that the segregation of the wetting layer is mainly strain-driven, whereas the formation of the QDs is also determined by growth kinetics. We have determined the indium composition of the QDs by fitting it to the measured outward relaxation and lattice constant profile of the cleaved surface using a three-dimensional finite element calculation based on elasticity theory.     

Photoluminescence and secondary ion mass spectroscopy characterization of GaAs-AlGaAs quantum wells grown on GaAs (1 0 0) substrates with different surface treatments

GaAs (1 0 0) substrates prepared in a quartz chamber under a H₂/As₄ flux, and then exposed to air were used for the subsequent growth of GaAs-AlGaAs single quantum wells by molecular beam epitaxy. The substrates prepared by this method showed atomically flat surfaces corroborated by atomic force microscopy analysis. Quantum wells grown directly on these substrates without a GaAs buffer layer exhibited narrow and intense photoluminescence peaks, an indication of a high quality material. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy analysis showed oxygen and carbon traces on the first AlGaAs barrier layer grown after air exposure with no effects on the quantum wells optical emissions. From the results we conclude that the prepared GaAs surfaces are useful for the epitaxial growth of high quality quantum structures.     

Growth of three-dimensional quantum dot crystals on patterned GaAs (0 0 1) substrates

The growth of a three-dimensional (3D) InAs quantum dot (QD) crystal on a patterned GaAs (0 0 1) substrate is demonstrated. The morphology of QDs grown on a surface patterned with shallow holes is studied as a function of the amount of deposited InAs. We observe that the QDs form in the patterned holes close to each other forming lateral QD bimolecules for InAs coverages below the commonly observed critical thickness of 1.6 monolayers. When the coverage increases, the QD bimolecules coalesce to form larger single QDs. The QDs in the holes are then capped with a Ga(Al)As spacer. The buried QD array serves as a strain template for controlling the formation site of the QDs in the second layer. By tuning the growth conditions for the second and subsequent layers, we achieve a 3D InAs QD crystal with a high degree of perfection. A detail investigation of the growth on hole patterns with different periodicities is presented.     

Epitaxial Heusler alloy films on GaAs(0 0 1) substrates

We present results on fabrication, and structural and electrical properties of single-crystal heterostructures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The exact stoichiometry of the Heusler alloy films can be achieved for almost lattice matched films. As evidenced by high-resolution X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and resistivity measurements, we find an optimum growth temperature of , to obtain ferromagnetic layers with high crystal and interface perfection as well as high degree of atomic ordering. .     

Photoluminescence characterized thermal mismatch of PbTe/CdTe single quantum wells grown on GaAs substrates

This report describes photoluminescence (PL) properties of PbTe/CdTe single quantum wells grown on (1 0 0)-oriented GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. Despite the differences in crystal structure and thermal expansion coefficient between PbTe and CdTe, an intense mid-infrared emission was observed even at higher temperatures than 300 K. Multiple peaks, however, were found in the PL spectra, and the analysis of the PL peak energy dependence on temperature revealed an important role of the thermal mismatch.     

Investigation of photoluminescence in GaAs quantum well coupled with a ferromagnetic semiconductor layer of (Ga,Mn)As

We have investigated circular-polarized photoluminescence (CPL) from a novel quantum structure in which a ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As is placed adjacent to the GaAs quantum well. By eliminating the contribution of the magneto-circular dichroism effect of the (Ga,Mn)As top layer from the observed CPL, we found a small but nonnegligible contribution of quantum mechanical coupling between the GaAs quantum well states and the spin-polarized states in (Ga,Mn)As.     

Influence of In composition on the photoluminescence emission of In(Ga)As quantum dot bilayers

We discuss a novel approach to the optimisation of quantum dot bilayer structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Use of a kinetic segregation model has shown that a reduction of the In composition for the upper layer of a bilayer structure can be used to compensate for the excess In that exists on the surface prior to growth. Three samples have been grown with upper dot In compositions varying from 90% to 100% and have been investigated by means of optical spectroscopy and electron microscopy.     

Change in band configuration of quantum wells from type-II to type-I by increasing Sb composition x

InGaAs/AlAsSb systems lattice matched to InP have two distinguishable features: a high conduction band offset and type-II band configuration. Although, the former results in a large intersubband transition (ISBT) at conduction band, the latter makes it difficult to use the effective interband transition (IBT). To overcome this latter problem, the effect of the Sb was investigated because Sb would act as a band modulator from type-II to type-I. In_0.57Ga_0.43As_1-xSb_x/AlAs_0.48Sb_0.52 single quantum well (SQW) samples with various Sb compositions x, were grown on GaAs substrates via AlAs_0.48Sb_0.52 buffer layer. Their photoluminescence (PL) properties were examined to identify their band configurations. When the excitation laser power was increased, the PL property of In_0.57Ga_0.43As SQW sample, showed a larger blue shift than that of ones. This indicates that the band configuration modulates from type-II to type-I when the antimonide composition is larger than 0.13. These findings indicate that new functional devices can be fabricated using a combination of IBT and ISBT.     

Selective area growth of GaInNAs/GaAs by MOVPE

Selective area growth (SAG) of GaInNAs/GaAs systems has been studied by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) for the first time. This also includes a comparative study of SAG of the GaInAs/GaAs. The patterns consisted of various filling factors (F). The band gap changes and the growth morphology have been investigated. A red-shift observed for SAG GaInAs is 100 nm with respect to the planar GaInAs which can be attributed to both In enrichment and quantum well (QW) thickness enhancement. Selectively grown GaInNAs structures exhibit a maximum wavelength of 1.3 μm, corresponding to a red-shift of 80 nm with respect to the planar GaInNAs. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) scans reveal a three-dimensional growth behaviour for SAG GaInNAs unlike SAG GaInAs. This can be related to a certain amount of phase separation or strain that are often the signatures of N incorporation. The cathodoluminescence (CL) intensities (spectral line width) for SAG GaInNAs are larger (smaller) than those for SAG GaInAs at low F's but smaller (larger) at high F's. This indicates that at low F's, GaInAs has degraded due to very high strain but certain amount of strain compensation occurs in GaInNAs.     

Optical anisotropy of GaNAs grown on GaAs(0 0 1) substrate

In this paper GaN_xAs_1−x surfaces during growth are observed using reflectance difference or reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RDS or RAS). The epi-layer was grown by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system with a RF nitrogen prasma source. RD spectra showed broader structure and reduced amplitude compared to those of GaAs surfaces; GaAs(2 × 4)-like features were still observed with weak and blue-shifted peaks. In the low growth temperature region, an extra structure was also observed around 3.02 eV. We proposed that GaN_xAs_1−x surface can be classified into three types of the surface.     

Carrier diffusion in InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells grown on vicinal GaAs(0 0 1) substrates

We have investigated the influence of vicinal GaAs substrates on the optical and electronic properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum wells (QWs). A single In_0.10Ga_0.90As QW was grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on a vicinal GaAs(0 0 1) substrate with a miscut angle of 0° (nominal), 2°, 4° and 6° towards [1 1 0]. The carrier diffusion was obtained by a micro-photoluminescence scan technique that permits to observe the effective diffusion length characterized by the lateral spread of carriers in the QW followed by radiative recombination. The carrier diffusion length was obtained parallel (L_||) and perpendicular (L) to the atomic steps. The diffusion length decreases as the temperature increases up to 100 K. Above this temperature we found different behaviours that depend on the sample miscut angle.     

Measurements of far-infrared intersubband absorption linewidths in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells as a function of temperature and charge density

Intersubband transitions in doped quantum wells are of fundamental scientific interest, as well as technological interest for potential devices. One of the important characteristics of the transitions is their linewidth. We present the results of linear absorption spectroscopy on a coupled double asymmetric QW structure. Using a backgated sample, we can independently vary the charge density and DC field at the well. The absorption lines appear to be homogeneously broadened. The lines appear to become lifetime broadened for temperatures above 70 K.     

Carrier-induced ferromagnetic order in the narrow gap III–V magnetic alloy semiconductor (In,Mn)Sb

Preparation and physical properties of p- and n-InMnSb epitaxial films with Mn contents up to 10% were studied with the aim of seeking phenomena induced by the spin exchange interaction between carrier and Mn spins. For p-type samples with Mn_eff=4.5×10²⁰ and p=1.1×10²⁰ cm⁻³, carrier-induced ferromagnetic order with a Curie temperature of 20 K was observed. The sign of the anomalous Hall coefficient is found to be negative. Tellurium-doped n-type samples (n=8.6×10¹⁸ cm⁻³) with net Mn contents of 10% are found to be paramagnetic.     

低温InGaAs/InAlAs多量子阱的分子束外延生长与表征

采用气源分子束外延(GSMBE)生长了低温InGaAs材料,研究了生长温度及As压对InGaAs材料性质的影响,得到优化的生长条件为:生长温度为300 ℃、As压为77.3 kPa。通过Be掺杂,并采用In0.52Al0.48As/In0.53Ga0.47As多量子阱结构,将材料的方块电阻提高到1.632106 /Sq,载流子数密度降低至1.0581014 cm-3。X射线衍射结果表明:InGaAs多量子阱材料具有较高的晶体质量。这种Be掺杂InGaAs多量子阱材料缺陷密度大且电阻率高,是制作太赫兹光电导天线较理想的基质材料。收稿日期:; 修订日期:     

High-resolution X-ray diffraction analysis of SnTe/Sn1−xEuxTe superlattices grown on (1 1 1) BaF2 substrates

A set of SnTe/Sn_1−xEu_xTe superlattice (SL) samples with increasing nominal Eu content x up to 0.28 was successfully grown on (1 1 1) BaF₂ substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. A complete structural characterization was performed by triple-axis X-ray diffractometry and reciprocal space mapping. The X-ray results showed that, despite the phase separation that normally occurs for unstrained Sn_1−xEu_xTe layers with x0.02, an SL stack with homogeneous individual layers can be formed for SL samples with a nominal Eu content up to 0.16. No SL satellite peak structure could be identified for samples with x values higher than 0.24. The structural parameters of the individual layers that compose the SL were determined using a best-fit simulation procedure which compared the calculated X-ray spectra to the measured (2 2 2) ω/2Θ scans. The strain information used in the simulation was obtained from the reciprocal space maps measured around the (2 2 4) lattice point.     

Influence of Ga coverage on the sizes of GaAs quantum dash pairs grown by high temperature droplet epitaxy

We investigate the formation of GaAs quantum dash pairs with different coverages by droplet epitaxy. The GaAs quantum dash pairs of various sizes are fabricated by high temperature droplet epitaxy. Dual‐sized quantum dash pairs are observed along $[01\bar 1]$ orientation. Depending on the Ga cov‐ erage, the width of the quantum dash pairs can be tuned from ～100 nm to ～300 nm while keeping the height in the range of 4 nm to 10 nm. The coverage dependence of quantum dash pairs is also confirmed with photoluminescence measurement. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dimensional effects and magnetic field influence on excitons in coupled quantum dots and coupled quantum wells

Direct and indirect excitons in coupled quantum wells and in coupled quantum dots are studied. We consider excitons with two-dimensional, quasi-two-dimensional and three-dimensional carriers. Problems were investigated for a wide range of characteristic parameters—confining to potential steepness, distances between quantum wells or dots, effective width of wells and magnetic fields. The mutual influence of the controlling parameters of the problem on exciton properties is analyzed. Energy and wave function spectra were calculated and dispersion law and effective masses were obtained.