Structural and vibrational properties of (InAs)m(GaAs)n strained superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The structural and vibrational properties of superlattices composed of many periods of highly mismatched InAs and GaAs layers have been studied by means of x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering as a function of the sample geometry. X-ray diffraction measures the average lattice mismatch between the superlattice and the substrate. The long-range order influences the propagative acoustic phonons whereas strain and confinement effects compete in determining the optic vibration frequencies of the InAs layers. The linewidth of the main superlattice peak in the diffraction patterns and the scattering intensities of the acoustic phonons are related to the actual shape of the interfaces. We find that the stability of the structures depends on the total number of periods, in agreement with the predictions of equilibrium elasticity theory. However, the competition between the different relaxation processes is governed by the individual layer thicknesses.