Positron-annihilation spectroscopy of native vacancies in as-grown GaAs

Native vacancy defects are studied in as-grown GaAs materials by positron-lifetime measurements. Direct evidence of native monovacancy-type defects is found in as-grown n-type Te-, Sn-, and Si-doped GaAs. However, the same evidence is not found in as-grown semi-insulating In- or Cr-doped GaAs or semi-insulating undoped GaAs or p-type GaAs(Zn). It is shown that the positron trapping and annihilation in the native defects are strongly dependent on the position of the Fermi level in as-grown n-type GaAs. It is concluded that the configurations of the native monovacancy defects in GaAs (Te or Sn) change with the position of Fermi level. Two Fermi-level-controlled transitions are found: one is located at 0.035±{}0.015 eV and the other at 0.10±{}0.02 eV below the conduction band. It is proposed that the two transitions correspond to two charge-state transitions of the arsenic vacancy V_As^2-→V_As^- and V_As^-→V_As⁰, respectively.