Vacancy-type defects in Er-doped GaN studied by a monoenergetic positron beam

A relationship between intra-4f transitions of Er and vacancy-type defects in Er-doped GaN was studied by using a monoenergetic positron beam. Doppler broadening spectra of the annihilation radiation were measured for Er-doped GaN grown by molecular beam epitaxy. A clear correlation between the defect concentration and the photoluminescence (PL) intensity was observed. The major defect species detected by positrons was identified as a Ga vacancy VGa, and its concentration increased with increasing Er concentration [Er]. For the sample with [Er]=3.3at.%, the maximum integrated intensity of PL was observed. The VGa concentration was above 1018cm−3 and additional vacancies such as divacancies started to be introduced at this Er concentration. For the sample with higher [Er], the PL intensity decreased, and the mean size of vacancies decreased due to an introduction of precipitates and/or metastable phases.