Use of Valved, Solid Group V Sources for the Growth of GaAs/GaInP Heterostructures by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

ABSTRACTWe report on the first growth of GaAs/Ga0.5In0.5P heterostructures by conventional molecular beam epitaxy using solid-source valved crackers to supply both the arsenic and the phosphorus fluxes. By regulating the group V fluxes with the cracker needle valves, arsenide-phosphide heterostructures were successfully grown with virtually no group V intermixing between layers. For comparison, similar heterostructure samples were grown using only the mechanical shutters to switch between group V fluxes, and the resulting layers were severely intermixed. The amount of group V intermixing was shown to be independent of whether As2 or As4 fluxes were used to grow the layers. A GaAs/Ga0.5In0.5P multiple quantum well sample was also grown using the valved crackers. Photoluminescence peaks were clearly observed from 40 Å, 80 Å, and 300 Å GaAs quantum wells, but no luminescence was detected from a 20 Å well. An 80Å GaAs/ 80Å Ga0.5In0.5P superlattice was grown, and superlattice satellite peaks were observed in the X-ray rocking curves. The appearance of misfit dislocations suggests localized intermixing at the interfaces.