Optical characterization of ZnSe/ZnSxSe1−x superlattices pseudomorphically grown on GaAs(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract

This article presents optical characteristics of ZnSe/ZnS0.12Se0.88 strained-layer superlattices (SLs) with ZnS0.06Se0.94 buffers pseudomorphically grown on GaAs(100) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The SL samples exhibit strong blue luminescence. The main emission peaks in photoluminescence spectra can be attributed to the free exciton transitions between lowest electron subband and ground heavy-hole subband of ZnSe wells. The temperature dependence of PL was investigated in detail. The experimental results of temperature dependence of peak positions and linewidths (FWHM) were fitted to the theoretical calculations, based on Varshni’s formula and broadening model. The activation energies of the samples were derived from the temperature dependence of PL intensities. The effects of strain and quantum confinement in ZnSe/ZnS0.12Se0.88 strained-layer SLs with different well thicknesses of 30, 60, and 120 Å were studied by experiments and theoretical calculations. Theoretical calculations and experimental observations are in reasonable agreement.