MBE growth of MgSe thin films on ZnSe/GaAs(001) substrates is
studied. Insight into the formation mechanism of this type of surface, the
interface, and the bulk has been provided by photoemission spectroscopy.
Detailed lineshape analyses of Se, Mg, and Zn core levels have been performed,
following their evolution as MgSe is deposited. Shifts for all core levels are
very small during the deposition, indicating band bending is virtually
negligible under the present growth conditions. After deposition of 1.7 nm of
MgSe, emission from the substrate is fully attenuated. A value of 0.44 nm is
obtained for the inelastic scattering mean free path for electrons with a
kinetic energy of around 65.8 eV in the MgSe thin films. Annealing the sample
at 500 °C for 30 min results in full desorption of the thick Se layer
formed on the MgSe surface. The intensities of the MgSe core level emissions
obviously decrease. In contrast, the ZnSe peak reappears. Emission from
metallic Mg is also observed. Annealing at 500 °C for 30 min more
results in the desorption of nearly all the MgSe layer, whereas the intensity
of the bulk ZnSe emission remains almost unchanged.