ABSTRACTAs reported previously, perfect facets can be achieved at the side walls of submicron silicon mesa structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) with micro shadow masks [1]. An essentially self organizing, three-dimensional growth was observed. In this paper we present the results of the epitaxial growth on (001) substrates using long (≥ 1μm), lineshaped mask apertures, which put constraints on the formation of facets. At a growth temperature of 500°C {111} facet formation is observed for lineshaped mesas oriented along the <110> direction of the substrate. Side walls with a length of I μm are perfectly plane, while mesas with a length of 10 μm and more show rough sidewalls. This is explained by a limited silicon adatom diffusion on the facet. For higher flux rates the facet formation is suppressed. This can be understood in terms of a reduced adatom diffusion.A crossover from {111} to {113} facet formation is observed at growth temperatures above 500°C. A model for the temperature dependent formation of {111} and {113} facets is given.
