Atomic ordering in strained layer multi-quantum well structure

The dependence of photoluminescence (PL) characteristics on both SL-MQW structure and epitaxial growth condition is studied. The degradation of PL characteristics in the SL-MQW is confirmed as a broadening of PL linewidth and an unusual temperature-dependence of PL peak wavelength. By using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), the structure of atomic ordering is demonstrated over entire barrier layers of the SL-MQW structure with degraded PL characteristics. By increasing growth temperature, elimination of the ordering structure as well as improvement of the PL characteristics have been confirmed even in a SL-MQW structure a with large amount of strain