PRECISE DETERMINATION OF ALUMINUM CONTENT IN ALGAAS

Abstract

The Al composition of AlGaAs has been determined by four methods: high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), photoluminescence (PL), and double-crystal x-ray diffraction (DCXRD). HRTEM is direct and the most accurate method because it does not involve any formula or extrapolation. Using the result obtained from HRTEM as a standard, we have calibrated the results from other methods. RHEED intensity oscillation is found to be accurate and reliable, if the growth conditions are correctly chosen. Comparing the PL results with those determined from HRTEM and RHEED, we suggest three formulas to determine the Al contents at different temperatures. We also proposed a polynomial to determine the Al concentration using the DCXRD measurement.