Strain-dependent morphology of spontaneous lateral composition modulations in (AlAs)m(InAs)n short-period superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The nature of spontaneous lateral composition modulation and its relationship to surface morphology during the growth of (AlAs)m(InAs)n short-period superlattices by molecular beam epitaxy are investigated as a function of the global strain between the short-period superlattice and (001)InP substrate. For samples grown under tension, transmission electron and atomic force microscopy reveal composition modulations along directions close to 〈310〉 coupled to a surface cusping. For samples grown under compression, we observe composition modulations roughly along the elastically soft 〈100〉 directions coupled to a surface rippling. For high strains (⩾0.7%), with individual InAs layer thicknesses ⩽1.6 monolayers, we observe weak or no composition modulations.