Manganese-related luminescence in GaInAs/AlInAs multiple quantum wells grown on InP by molecular beam epitaxy

Two Mn-related luminescence peaks have been observed in a series of nominally undoped Ga_0.47In_0.53As/Al_0.48In_0.52As multiple quantum wells (MQW) grown lattice-matched on InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. These two peaks correspond to on-center and on-edge impurity states, respectively. The origin of the Mn impurities is outdiffusion from the Fe-doped semiinsulating InP substrate into the epitaxial layer. The binding energy of Mn acceptors, determined to be 53±3 meV in bulk-like Ga_0.47In_0.53As, increases to 80±5 meV for the on-center Mn state in a 58 Å MQW. The strong well-width dependence of the binding energy is explained in terms of the unique behavior of the Mn impurity in III–V semiconductors. The Mn in Ga_0.47In_0.53As and Ga_0.47In_0.53As/Al_0.48In_0.52As MQWs behaves predominantly as a deep impurity.On leave from: A. F. Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Leningrad, USSR