Photoreflectance study of InAs ultrathin layer embedded in Si-delta-doped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells

Photoreflectance and photoluminescence studies were performed to characterize InAs ultrathin layer embedded in Si-delta-doped GaAs/AlGaAs high electron mobility transistors. These structures were grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy on (1 0 0) oriented GaAs substrates with different silicon-delta-doped layer densities. Interband energy transitions in the InAs ultrathin layer quantum well were observed below the GaAs band gap in the photoreflectance spectra, and assigned to electron-heavy-hole (E_e-hh) and electron-light-hole (E_e-lh) fundamental transitions. These transitions were shifted to lower energy with increasing silicon-δ-doping density. This effect is in good agreement with our theoretical results based on a self-consistent solution of the coupled Schrödinger and Poisson equations and was explained by increased escape of photogenerated carriers and enhanced Quantum Confined Stark Effect in the Si-delta-doped InAs/GaAs QW. In the photoreflectance spectra, not only the channel well interband energy transitions were observed, but also features associated with the GaAs and AlGaAs bulk layers located at about 1.427 and 1.8 eV, respectively. By analyzing the Franz-Keldysh Oscillations observed in the spectral characteristics of Si-δ-doped samples, we have determined the internal electric field introduced by ionized Si-δ-doped centers. We have observed an increase in the electric field in the InAs ultrathin layer with increasing silicon content. The results are explained in terms of doping dependent ionized impurities densities and surface charges.     

Electro-optic effects in GaAs/AlGaAs parabolic quantum well structures

We report on a systematic experimental and theoretical investigation of the interband electroabsorption in GaAs/AlGaAs parabolic quantum well (PQW) structures. In our experiments, we performed transmission and reflectance measurements using a sensitive double modulation technique. The measurements were carried out on p–i–n diode type PQW samples with two different well widths. In the sample with the narrow PQW, the discrete structure of the interband subband transitions can be resolved in the electroabsorption spectra. In the sample with the wide PQW, and therefore a small subband spacing, these transitions can no longer be resolved individually due to the broadening. Their superposition, however, results in a red-shifting, quasi-linear pattern in the electroabsorption spectra, which is modulated by the blue-shifting, non-linear fan of the ‘ arabolic Franz–Keldysh effect’. The experimental results are in very good agreement with calculated single-particle absorption spectra based on a simple harmonic oscillator model.     

Influence of europium doping on the sensitization of luminescence in GaAs/AlGaAs and InGaN/GaN quantum-well structures

A correlation between the photoluminescence spectra and structural parameters of Eu-doped quantum- well nanostructures InGaN/GaN and GaAs/AlGaAs is established. It is shown that the incorporation of rare-earth ions initiates lattice (as a rule, compressive) strains. The excitation migration in structures of high perfection stimulates transfer of nonequilibrium carriers to the ⁵ D ₂-⁵ D ₀ atomic levels of the Eu ion. In less perfect structures, the insertion of a rare-earth ion leads to the formation of isovalent traps in GaN layers capable of effectively capturing nonequilibrium carriers, which increases the intensity of photoluminescence of the structure by one order of magnitude.     

Resonant magnetopolaron effects in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well structures

A detailed experimental study of electron cyclotron resonance (CR) has been carried out at 4.2 K in three modulation-doped GaAs/Al_0.3Ga_0.7As multiple quantum well samples in fields up to 30 T. A strong avoided-level-crossing splitting of the CR energies due to resonant magnetopolaron effects is observed for all samples near the GaAs reststrahlen region. Resonant splittings in the region of AlAs-like interface phonon modes of the barriers are observed in two samples with narrower well width and smaller doping concentration. The interaction between electrons and the AlAs interface optical phonon modes has been calculated for our specific sample structures in the framework of the memory-function formalism. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results, which confirms our assignment of the observed splitting near the AlAs-like phonon region is due to the resonant magnetopolaron interaction of electrons in the wells with AlAs-like interface phonons.     

First-principles study of stability of point defects and their effects on electronic properties of GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice

When the GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice-based devices are used under irradiation environments, point defects may be created and ultimately deteriorate their electronic and transport properties. Thus, understanding the properties of point defects like vacancies and interstitials is essential for the successful application of semiconductor materials. In the present study, first-principles calculations are carried out to explore the stability of point defects in GaAs/Al_0.5Ga_0.5As superlattice and their effects on electronic properties. The results show that the interstitial defects and Frenkel pair defects are relatively difficult to form, while the antisite defects are favorably created generally. Besides, the existence of point defects generally modifies the electronic structure of GaAs/Al_0.5Ga_0.5As superlattice significantly, and most of the defective SL structures possess metallic characteristics. Considering the stability of point defects and carrier mobility of defective states, we propose an effective strategy that Al_As, Ga_As, and Al_Ga antisite defects are introduced to improve the hole or electron mobility of GaAs/Al_0.5Ga_0.5As superlattice. The obtained results will contribute to the understanding of the radiation damage effects of the GaAs/AlGaAs superlattice, and provide a guidance for designing highly stable and durable semiconductor superlattice-based electronics and optoelectronics for extreme environment applications.     

Quantum cascade electroluminescence in GaAs/AlGaAs structures

The operation of a unipolar quantum cascade light-emitting diode based on the material system GaAs/AlGaAs is reported. The LED operates at a wavelength of 6.9 μm. Detailed analysis of the electroluminescence spectra shows a linewidth as narrow as 14 meV at cryogenic temperatures, increasing to 20 meV at room temperature. For typical drive-current densities of 1 kA/cm² the optical output power lies in the ten 10 nW range. Additional absorption and photocurrent measurements provide a complete characterization of the mid-infrared emitter.     

Post-growth tailoring of the optical properties of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well structures

In this paper we describe a method for performing post-growth bandgap engineering in the GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well system. The method used is impurity-free vacancy diffusion. Using both single and multiple quantum well data we show that this allows blue shifts in the optical properties, while retaining both their distinctive excitonic and electrical characteristics. The electrical response is modelled and no comparative degradation of the quantum confined Stark effect is predicted, and this is confirmed experimentally. Possible applications of this technique are mentioned.     

Single quantum well transistor with modulation doped AlGaAs/GaAs/AlGaAs structures

Self-consistent calculations have been performed to obtain the wave functions and energy subbands of the two-dimensional electrons confined in a single quantum well of a Al_xGa_1?xAs/GaAs/Al_xGa_1?xAs heterostructure. The wave functions of the two-dimensional electron gas are found to be easily controlled by an external gate voltage applied between the AlGaAs-barriers, indicating a capability of fabricating a novel quantum well device, a modulation-doped single quantum well transistor.     

Terahertz injection electroluminescence in multiperiod quantum-cascade AlGaAs/GaAs structures

Terahertz electroluminescence in the range ≈1.5 THz was observed in a quantum-cascade GaAs/AlGaAs structure containing 40 periods of tunnel-coupled wells. The luminescence is caused by the spatially indirect optical electron transitions between the ground states of neighboring quantum wells.     

Exciton cooling and localization in GaAs/AlGaAs multiquantum well structures

We report experimental and theoretical results on picosecond time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy of 2D-excitons in multiquantum well structures. A theoretical model is formulated which includes the cooling of the free exciton gas by acoustical phonon emission and the localization of excitons due to interface defects. The cooling rate of 2D excitons is shown to be enhanced with respect to the 3D case.     

掺杂浓度及掺杂层厚度对Si均匀掺杂的GaAs量子阱中电子态结构的影响

本文通过自洽地求解薛定鄂方程及泊松方程计算了在温度T=0, 有效质量近似下, Si均匀掺杂的GaAs/AlGaAs量子阱系统的电子态结构. 研究了掺杂浓度及掺杂层厚度对子带能量, 本征包络函数, 自洽势, 电子密度分布, 及费米能量的影响. 发现在给定掺杂浓度下, 子带能量随掺杂层厚度的增加单调递减, 自洽势的势阱变宽变浅, 电子密度分布变宽, 峰值变低; 在给定掺杂层厚度下, 随掺杂浓度的增加子带能量及费米能级单调递增, 自洽势阱变深变陡变窄, 电子密度分布的峰值变高, 集中在中心.关键词：掺杂量子阱电子结构半导体GaAs     

Metamorphic growth of InAlAs/InGaAs MQW and InAs HEMT structures on GaAs

The large electron mobility at room temperature and the absence of Schottky barrier to metals make InAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) a good candidate for SPIN-FET (FET—field-effect-transistor) applications. So far the growth was done either on the InAlAs epilayers compositionally matched to InP substrates, or on Sb-based compound semiconductors. Here we aim to grow InAs 2DEG on GaAs substrates by using a strain-relaxing buffer layer. We introduce In_0.4Al_0.6As glue layer to the metamorphic structure and investigate the physical properties of InAlAs/InGaAs multi-quantum-well (MQW) structures via X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence. We find that the use of As dimer instead of tetramer and the choice of proper growth temperature are essential for successful growth. InAs-inserted-channel InAlAs/InGaAs inverted high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) structures show promising results for SPIN-FET application.     

Erbium-induced interdiffusion of gallium and aluminum in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well structures

Incorporation of erbium into GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well structures in the course of their MBE growth has been shown experimentally to initiate effective Ga and Al interdiffusion and Er diffusion due to the erbium-induced enhanced vacancy formation. A mechanism for the formation of cation vacancies is proposed, which is based on the generation of local strains by the incorporating erbium. It is shown that erbium interacts with aluminum to produce in AlGaAs aluminum-enriched, erbium-containing clusters. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 41, 540–544 (March 1999)     

Spatial and temporal plasma inhomogeneity effects on the luminescence of highly excited GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well structures

Summary The effects on the luminescence lineshape of the spatial and temporal inhomogeneities of the electron-hole plasma generated by strong laser pulses in GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum well structures are experimentally investigated. It is found that inhomogeneities strongly affect the luminescence spectra and must be taken into account for a correct interpretation of the experimental data. The lineshape of the luminescence spectra is analysed using a statistical model that includes, in a simple way, the spatial and temporal inhomogeneities of the laser pulses used for excitation. A fair agreement is obtained with the experimental data; at the same time the values of the fit parameters turn out to be rather sensitive to the model assumed for describing the inhomogeneities. Therefore, caution has to be used when inferring plasma properties, such as the carrier density and temperature, from a lineshape analysis.

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Riassunto Si presenta, in questo lavoro, uno studio sperimentale degli effetti delle disomogeneità spaziali e temporali nei plasmi di elettroni e lacune generati da impulsi laser potenti in strutture a buche quantiche di GaAs/AlGaAs. Si trova che tali disomogeneità modificano fortemente gli spettri di fotoluminescenza e devono quindi essere considerate per una corretta interpretazione dei dati sperimentali. La forma di riga degli spettri di luminescenza viene analizzata mediante un modello statistico che include, in modo semplice, le disomogeneità spaziali e temporali degli impulsi laser usati per l’eccitazione. Si ottiene un accordo soddisfacente con i dati sperimentali e si trova che i valori dei parametri ottenuti dal fit dipendono in modo sensibile dal modello assunto per la descrizione delle disomogeneità. Grande cautela deve essere quindi usata nel dedurre le proprietà del plasma fotogenerato a partire da una analisi delle forme di riga.

     

调制掺杂GaAs/AlGaAs 2DEG材料持久光电导及子带电子特性研究

在掺Si的GaAs/AlGaAs二维电子气(2DEG)结构中，得到μ_2K=1.78×10^{6cm2/(V·s)的高迁移率.在低温(2K)和高磁场(6T)的条件下，对样品进行红 光辐照，观察到持久光电导(PPC)效应，电子浓度在光照后显著增加.通过整数量子霍尔效应 (IQHE)和Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH)振荡的测量，研究了2DEG的子带电子特性.样品在低温光 照后2DEG中第一子带和第二子带的电子浓度同时随电子总浓度的增加而增加；而且电子迁移 率也明显提高.同时，通过整数霍尔平台的宽度对光照前后电子的量子寿命变短现象作了理 论分析. 关键词： 二维电子气 量子霍尔效应 SdH振荡 持久光电导效应}     

Electroreflectance and photoluminescence measurement of passivation by hydrogenation in GaAs/AlGaAs structures

We have studied by electrolyte electroreflectance and photoluminescence a GaAs/AlGaAs resonant tunneling structure (RTS) with a highly n-doped GaAs cap, before and after hydrogenation. We measured the amount of passivation of shallow donor states and of deep traps in the cap and found the approximate pinning levels and interace charges of the RTS.     

On the temperature dependence of the electronic states and the mobility in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures

Experiment shows that in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures the sheet electron concentration remains almost constant up to a certain temperature, while it increases at higher temperatures. We attempt an interpretation of this temperature dependence, taking into account the fact that in the bulk, n-AlGaAs deep and shallow donors exist, which independently and by different mechanisms provide electrons to the different conduction band minima of the bulk n-AlGaAs, and contribute to the formation of the Q2DEG. We calculate the electronic states of this structure, the Q2DEG and the bulk concentrations, and the corresponding mobilities as a function of temperature. Our numerical results are in an excellent agreement with experimental data.PACS:     

Co doping effects on structural, electronic and magnetic properties in Mn2VGa

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of Co-doped Heusler alloys (Mn_1−xCo_x)₂ VGa (x=0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0) have been studied by first-principles calculations. The results show that the lattice constants decrease with increasing Co content except x=1.0. The spin polarization for x=0.5 is only 34%, much lower than the other concentrations. The compounds of x=0.0, 0.25 show nearly half-metallicity because the Fermi level slightly touches the valence bands. And the compounds of x=0.75, 1.0 exhibit the half-metallic character with 100% spin polarization. It is found the local moments of Mn(Co) basically show a linear increasing trend while the moments of V show a linear decreasing trend with increasing doping concentration. However, the local moments for x=0.5 quite depart from the linear trend. The majority-spin component at the Fermi level increases while the minority-spin component at the Fermi level decreases with the substitution of Co atoms for Mn atoms when x≤0.75. For x≥0.75, the majority-spin component remains more or less the same and the gap in the minority DOS increases with Co doping. The majority spin states are shifted to valence bands and the majority spin states around E_F increase due to a leakage of charge from the unoccupied spin-up states to the occupied majority states with increasing Co content.