Low-energy electron energy-loss spectroscopy with Ge:GaAs (110) heterostructures

Electronic properties and chemical composition of Ge films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs (110) surfaces were studied in situ by electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The loss peaks involving core-level excitations proved that As atoms segregate at the surface of the growing film. The well known 20 eV loss peak of the clean GaAs (110) surface, being attributed to transitions from Ga(3d) to Frenkel-type excitons of dangling-bond surface states, was found to persist, slightly shifted to 19.7 eV, with the growing Ge (110) film. Since the Ga coverage amounts to below approximately 0.05 of a monolayer this transition seems to contain a strong intraatom contribution.     

Growth of Sb overlayers on GaAs(110)

The GaAs(110)-Sb system is studied with AES, EELS, LEED, ellipsometric spectroscopy and SEM. As indicated by EELS Sb atoms are adsorbed first on Ga sites. The AES spectra can be explained by assuming a simultaneous growth of multiple layers on top of a well ordered homogeneous first monolayer (MSM growth mode). The results of ellipsometric spectroscopy confirm the inhomogeneity of the Sb-film as proposed by the MSM mode. Desorption experiments and EELS demonstrate a strong chemical bonding between the first Sb monolayer and the substrate.     

Magnetic properties of (Ga,Mn)N ternaries and structural,electronic, and magnetic properties of cation-mixed (Ga,Mn)(As,N) and (In,Mn)(As,N) quaternaries

ABINIT simulation package with built in local density, generalized gradient, and spin local density approximations was used to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of cation mixed (Ga,Mn)(As,N) and (In,Mn)(As,N) quaternaries with equal and fixed compositions of Ga, In, and Mn atoms. In particular, total energy minimization approach was used to compute the equilibrium structural parameters of zinc-blende (GaAs, InAs, and MnAs), wurtzite (GaN, InN, and MnN) binary parent compounds, as well as, the corresponding equilibrium parameters of (Ga,Mn)(As,N) and (In,Mn)(As,N) quaternary systems. The band structures of zinc-blende GaAs, InAs, and MnAs binary parent compounds were computed and analyzed. Spin polarized band structures of the cation mixed (Ga,Mn)(As,N) and (In,Mn)(As,N) quaternaries with equal compositions of Ga, In, and Mn cations were computed and analyzed using spin local density approximation based calculations. Moreover, the magnetic properties of (Ga,Mn)(As,N) and (In,Mn)(As,N) quaternaries with equal concentration of Ga, In, and Mn cations were investigated. Our results suggest that the two quaternary systems are nonmagnetic. An interpretation of our results is presented. In addition, the magnetic properties of (Ga,Mn)N nanocrystal ternaries constructed from doping GaN with one or two Mn atoms were investigated using Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package (VASP) and compared with those of (Ga,Mn)(As,N) quaternaries.     

One-dimensional single (In,Ga)As quantum dot arrays formed by self-organized anisotropic strain engineering

Well-defined one-dimensional single (In,Ga)As quantum dot (QD) arrays have been successfully formed on planar singular GaAs (1 0 0) in molecular beam epitaxy by self-organized anisotropic strain engineering of an (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum wire (QWR) superlattice (SL) template. The distinct stages of template formation, which govern the uniformity of the QD arrays, are directly imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM results reveal that excess strain accumulation causes fluctuations of the QWR template and the QD arrays. By reducing the amount of (In,Ga)As and increasing the GaAs separation layer thickness in each SL period, the uniformity of the QD arrays dramatically improves. The single QD arrays are straight over more than 1 μm and extended to 10 μm length. Capped QD arrays show clear photoluminescence emission up to room temperature.     

Mixed magnetic phases in (Ga,Mn)As epilayers

Two different ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transitions are detected in (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs(001) epilayers from ac susceptibility measurements: transition at a higher temperature results from (Ga,Mn)As cluster phases with [110] uniaxial anisotropy and that at a lower temperature is associated with a ferromagnetic (Ga,Mn)As matrix with 100 cubic anisotropy. A change in the magnetic easy axis from [100] to [110] with increasing temperature can be explained by the reduced contribution of 100 cubic anisotropy to the magnetic properties above the transition temperature of the (Ga,Mn)As matrix.     

XPS data for sputter-cleaned In0.53Ga0.47As,GaAs, and InAs surfaces

Core level binding energies and Auger parameters were determined for In, Ga, and As in the three compounds In_0.53Ga_0.47As, GaAs, and InAs. The surfaces were cleaned by 1.5 keV Ar ion bombardment. Under this condition the radiation-induced defects are small. In the case of GaAs the Ga and As3d levels become comparable with available data for chemically cleaned surfaces. The high Ga deficiency of chemically cleaned In_0.53Ga_0.47As surfaces could not be observed. Sputter cleaned surfaces seem to be closer to the bulk composition.     

Surface mediated control of droplet density and morphology on GaAs and AlAs surfaces

We present a comparative study of gallium (Ga) and aluminium (Al) droplets fabricated on GaAs (100) and AlAs (100) surfaces. Higher density of Ga droplets is achieved on AlAs surface compared with GaAs surface. Similarly, the density of Al nanostructures is higher on AlAs surface than on GaAs surface, even though different morphologies are obtained on each surface. Further, while uniform Ga droplets are formed on both GaAs and AlAs surfaces, Al rings and dots, with big inhomogeneity, are observed on GaAs and AlAs surface, respectively. This investigation suggests that size and shape of nanostructures grown by the droplet epitaxy method can be designed by employing different surfaces. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Element resolved spin configuration in ferromagnetic manganese-doped gallium arsenide

We report induced Ga and As moments in ferromagnetic Ga(1-x)MnxAs detected using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism at the Mn, Ga, and As L(3,2) edges. Across a broad composition range, we find As and Ga dichroism signals which indicate an As 4s moment coupled antiparallel to the Mn 3d moment, and a smaller parallel Ga 4s moment. The Ga moment follows that of Mn in both doping and temperature dependence. These results are consistent with recent predictions of induced GaAs host moments and support the model of carrier-mediated ferromagnetic ordering involving As-derived valence band states.     

Cerenkov losses: a limit for bandgap determination and Kramers-Kronig analysis

Measuring low energy losses in semiconductors and insulators with high spatial resolution becomes attractive with the increasing availability of modern transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) equipped with monochromators, C(s) correctors and energy filters. In this paper, we demonstrate that Cerenkov losses pose a limit for the interpretation of low energy loss spectra (EELS) in terms of interband transistions and bandgap determination for many materials. If the velocity of a charged particle in a medium exceeds the velocity of light, photons are emitted leading to a corresponding energy loss of a few electronvolt. Since these losses are strong for energies below the onset of interband transitions, they change the apparent loss function of semiconductors and insulators, with the risk of erroneous interpretation of spectra. We measured low energy losses of Si and GaAs with a monochromated TEM demonstrating the effect of sample thickness on Cerenkov losses. Angle resolved EELS and energy filtered diffraction patterns (taken without a monochromator) show the extremely narrow angular distribution of Cerenkov losses. The latter experiment provides a method that allows to decide whether Cerenkov radiation masks the very low loss signal in EELS.     

Hydrogen chemisorption on cleavage faces of III–V compounds

In this paper a number of experimental results dealing with the study of the electronic properties of H-exposed III–V semiconductor cleavage surfaces will be reviewed. The principal aim of the paper is to show how surface sensitive spectroscopies like electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) can be used to investigate these systems. The paper is focused on GaAs(1 1 0):H. GaAs(1 1 0) is one of the most widely investigated and better known semiconductor surfaces: this system can be taken as a case study for the interaction of H with III–V semiconductor cleavage surfaces. The paper is divided into two parts. In the first part EELS and UPS are used and combined to get information about the surface valence states. In the second part core level (CL) photoemission results are presented and discussed.

Combining theory with the above results, a unified picture of the H interaction with the (1 1 0) surface of GaAs comes out. H atoms chemisorb at the early stages along the dangling bond directions of the ideal not relaxed surface, removing the surface relaxation and introducing at the same time defects at the surface.

At the same time the interaction with H produces a Ga enrichment at the surface ascribed to As desorption.     

Photoemission study of Gd metal overlayers on a GaAs(110) surface

We have studied the chemical reactions of Gd metal on an in situ cleaved GaAs(110) surface by photoemission spectroscopy of Ga 3d and As 3d core-levels as well as the Gd 4f level on- and off-resonance valence band using synchrotron radiation. We find that the Fermi-level pinning is completed before 0.13 ML coverage, and the deposited Gd atoms start to react with the GaAs substrate at a very low coverage (critical coverage < 0.067 ML). As more Gd atoms are deposited, they form stable compounds with As atoms which are then trapped in the relatively narrow interfacial layer of thickness less than about 3.3 ML, while Ga atoms diffuse out towards the surface and eventually become metallic. The thickness of the GdGa intermixed layers is estimated to be about 6.7 ML, which is somewhat greater than that for a interface.     

Resonant shake-up satellites in photoemission at the Ga 3p photothreshold in GaN

Photoemission spectra recorded near the Ga 3p photothreshold from GaN have been found to contain satellites of the main Ga 3d emission line. The intensity of these satellites resonate at this threshold, and are associated with a 3d⁸ state. The correlation energies and binding energies for the satellite multiplet have been measured for the satellite and related Auger transitions. The satellite multiplet contains additional constant binding energy features not observed in previous studies of other Ga compounds. The present results are compared with those for GaP and GaAs.     

Electron–Nuclear Spin Dynamics in Semiconductor QDs

This work presents an overview of investigations of the nuclear spin dynamics in nanostructures with negatively charged InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots characterized by strong quadrupole splitting of nuclear spin sublevels. The main method of the investigations is the experimental measurements and the theoretical analysis of the photoluminescence polarization as a function of the transverse magnetic field (effect Hanle). The dependence of the Hanle curve profile on the temporal protocol of optical excitation is examined. Experimental data are analyzed using an original approach based on separate consideration of behavior of the longitudinal and transverse components of the nuclear polarization. The rise and decay times of each component of the nuclear polarization and their dependence on transverse magnetic field strength are determined. To study the role of the Knight field in the dynamic of nuclear polarization, a weak additional magnetic field parallel to the optical axis is used. We have found that, only taking into account the nuclear spin fluctuations, we can accurately describe the measured Hanle curves and evaluate the parameters of the electron–nuclear spin system in the studied quantum dots. A new effect of the resonant optical pumping of nuclear spin polarization in an ensemble of the singly charged (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots subjected to a transverse magnetic field is discussed. Nuclear spin resonances for all isotopes in the quantum dots are detected in that way. In particular, transitions between the states split off from the ±1/2 doublets by the nuclear quadrupole interaction are identified.     

Observation of interface plasmon excitation in photoemission spectroscopy from the heterostructures Cu/RbF/GaAs(100) and Cu/RbF/Ge(100)

Synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectra taken at 100 eV photon energy have been measured to characterize the interface reactions of the metal-insulator-semiconductor systems Cu/RbF/GaAs(100) and Cu/RbF/Ge(100). In comparision, similar sequences are studied on the Cu/GaAs(100) and Cu/Ge(100) interfaces without the RbF interlayer. After Cu-deposition of 1–4 Å on RbF-covered (10–14 Å) GaAs and Ge surfaces, shoulder peaks appear on both the Ga 3d and Ge 3d core levels. The shoulder peaks are shifted 1.1 and 1.4 eV to higher binding energy for the Ga 3d and Ge 3d levels, respectively. The Rb 4p and F 2p peak positions are slightly shifted between 0.25 and 0.5 eV. The broad second Ga 3d and Ge 3d peaks can be correlated to plasmon loss of electrons from these levels in a two-dimensional Rb metal-like layer formed at the Cu/RbF interface. The excitation energy of a Rb surface plasmon in a Cu-Rb-RbF system is calculated to be 1.3 eV.     

GaAs(111)衬底上生长的GaN的极性与生长方法和生长条件的关系

研究了在GaAs(111)衬底上生长的六角相GaN的极性的相关关系.在高Ⅴ/Ⅲ比的条件下用MOVPE和MOMBE方法生长的GaN的极性和GaAs衬底的极性一致;在(111)A-Ga表面上的生长层呈现Ga的极性,而在(111)B-As表面上的生长层呈现N的极性.然而,在低的Ⅴ/Ⅲ比,或采用一个AIN中间层的条件下,用HVPE和MOMBE方法在GaAs(111)B表面上生长的GaN呈现出Ga的极性.目前,其原因尚不清楚,但是这些结果表明采用HVPE生长方法或用一高温AlN阻挡层可以得到高质量的GaN.     

Mn/GaAs(100)界面的形成和化学反应的研究

利用低能电子衍射(LEED)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、电子能量损失谱(EELS)、紫外光电子能谱(UPS),对室温下Mn在GaAs(100)4×1表面的淀积过程进行了研究。研究结果表明,当锰的覆盖度θ≥0.25nm时,LEED图案完全消失,表明Mn没有生长成单晶。LEED,EELS的结果都表明淀积初期是层状生长的。对XPS的Ga2p_3/2,As2p_3/2的峰形、强度进行分析,可以知道在很小的覆盖度下,Mn就与衬底反应。置换出的Ga被局限在离原来的界面约3nm 关键词：     

Passivation of GaAs(001) surface by the growth of high quality c-GaN ultra-thin film using low power glow discharge nitrogen plasma source

The benefits of using a low power glow discharge nitrogen plasma source to create high quality GaN layers on GaAs(001) surface are first highlighted. This uncommon type of plasma source has the particularity of working at a low power (3–10 W) and a low pressure (10^? 1 Pa) which induce creation of a small quantity of active nitrogen species. We put in evidence that this distinctiveness allows the growth of a stoichiometric and As-free GaN ultra-thin film on a GaAs(001) substrate by the mean of the inter-diffusion of As and N atoms. XPS, EELS, AFM are used to monitor surface composition and structure changes and to estimate the GaN thickness. A near saturation of the nitride layer thickness versus plasma exposure time is found. Furthermore, the possibility to crystallize the amorphous GaN layer by an annealing at 620 °C in a cubic structure with a lattice parameter close to that of c-GaN is put in evidence by means of TEM and LEED measurements. These measurements also show the homogeneity of the GaN thickness. In addition, the passivating effect of the GaN ultra-thin film to protect the GaAs surface is proved with the monitoring by XPS of the surface oxidation during several days of air exposure.     

Effect of a Coulomb well in (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum wells

Magnetooptical investigation of exciton transitions in high-quality quantum wells of an (In, Ga)As/GaAs heterosystem has been carried out. Investigation of transmission of free-hanging samples detached from the substrate in the magnetic fields of up to 12 T revealed a rich fine structure associated with various heavy-hole and light-hole exciton transitions. In particular, transitions from the excited states of light holes localized in a Coulomb potential produced by an electron along the heterojunction axis (a Coulomb well) have been detected. Taking into account consistently stresses, formation of Landau levels, the binding energies of excitons (diamagnetic excitons), and the effect of a Coulomb well, we have succeeded to describe the experimental results with the use of a self-consistent variational procedure. As a result, new features in the structure of optical transitions have been explained and the effective masses of electrons and holes of excitons formed by both heavy and light holes have been determined with a high accuracy.     

Magnetic linear dichroism in the angular dependence of core-level photoemission from (Ga,Mn)As using hard x rays

We report a study of the electronic properties of the ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As using magnetic linear dichroism in the angular dependence of Mn 2p photoemission under hard x-ray excitation. Bulk plasmon loss satellites demonstrate that the probed Mn ions are incorporated deep within the GaAs lattice, while the observed large dichroism indicates that the spectra originate from ferromagnetic substitutional Mn. Simulations of the spectra using an Anderson impurity model show that the ferromagnetic Mn 3d electrons of substitutional Mn in (Ga,Mn)As are intermediate between localized and delocalized.     

Selective photon-stimulated desorption of hydrogen from GaAs surfaces

Photon-stimulated desorption of H(+) from hydrogenated GaAs (110) and (100) surfaces was studied as a function of photon energy. Distinct peaks, observed around As 3d core-level binding energy for desorption from the GaAs (100) surface and in the As 3d and Ga 3p region for desorption from the GaAs (110) surface, show a striking similarity with the fine structure (spin-orbit splitting) measured in the photoemission from As 3d and Ga 3p levels. These results provide clear evidence for direct desorption processes and represent a basis for selective modification of hydrogenated GaAs surfaces.