X-ray diffraction and channeling-Rutherford backscattering spectrometry studies of ion implantation damage in AlxGa1-xAs

P. Partyka, R. S. Averback, D. V. Forbes, J. J. Coleman, P. Ehrhart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

X-ray diffraction and channeling-Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) were employed to investigate damage accumulation in AlxGa1-xAs (x = 0.50, 0.75, 0.85, and 1.0) irradiated at 80 K with MeV ions. The x-ray measurements, performed both before and after warming the samples, showed a transition in the strain accumulation behavior as the Al content increased. For samples with low Al content, x = 0.50, the strain increased monotonically with fluence until the sample amorphized, a behavior similar to GaAs. For samples with x≥0.75, the strain initially increased, then plateaued, and finally diminished at high fluences. The RBS data, obtained at both 80 K and room temperature, revealed a similar dependence of the amorphization behavior upon Al content. For pure AlAs films, amorphization in the bulk was not observed even after a fluence of 2 × 1017 cm2 of 1.7 MeV Ar+. For films with low Al content, however, the AlxGa1-xAs layer readily amorphized with a fluence of only 6.8×1014 cm2 of 1.7 MeV Ar+. From these data, along with previously published information provided by transmission electron microscopy studies, a model for damage accumulation in ion irradiated AlxGa1-xAs is proposed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1265-1269
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Applied Physics
Volume83
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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