Modeling the intermixing effects in highly strained asymmetric InGaAs/GaAs quantum well

Abstract

In this work, we have theoretically investigated the intermixing effect in highly strained In 0.3 Ga 0.7 As/GaAs quantum well (QW) taking into consideration the composition profile change resulting from in-situ indium surface segregation. To study the impact of the segregation effects on the postgrowth intermixing, one dimensional steady state Schrodinger equation and Fick's second law of diffusion have been numerically solved by using the finite difference methods. The impact of the In/Ga interdiffusion on the QW emission energy is considered for different In segregation coefficients. Our results show that the intermixed QW emission energy is strongly dependent on the segregation effects. The interdiffusion enhanced energy shift is found to be considerably reduced for higher segregation coefficients. This work adds a considerable insight into the understanding and modelling of the effects of interdiffusion in semiconductor nanostructures.