Abstract:
his thesis reports the evolution of InAs QDs on InGaAs cross-hatch substrates. By observing the differences of QDs formed on the cross-hatch substrate, it is found that the heights are different. Image thresholding analyses indicate that surface QDs can be categorized into 4 groups in order of height: those formed at the intersection of the cross-hatch; those formed along the [1-10] direction, along the [110] direction, and those formed on the flat area. It is thus hypothesized that these 4 groups of QDs may form on cross-hatch in sequence, with taller dots being earlier formed. In order to probe the above hypothesis, the properties of the cross-hatch layer are adjusted. Both the In composition in and the thickness of the InGaAs cross-hatch layer are varied. It is found that when the In content and the thickness of the InGaAs decrease, the line density of the cross-hatch in both [110] and [1-10] directions also decrease. This is due to the fact that both methods reduce the strain in the cross-hatch layer. Consequently, the dislocations are affected. When QDs are grown on the cross-hatch surface, they are aligned along these direction lines. In another set of experiment, the amount of InAs QD layer is varied by setting the deposited amount to 0.8, 0.76 and 0.72 ML while the substrate rotates, or by stopping substrate rotation and grow up to a nominal thickness of 0.8 ML. Both procedures yield the same qualitative results which prove that InAs quantum dots grown on cross-hatch substrates evolves from the formation of QDs on threading dislocation (TD), at the intersections of cross-hatches, along the [1-10] misfit dislocation (MD) lines, along the [110] MD lines, and on the flat area. The underlying principle which explains the formation sequence is asymmetrical strain distribution around dislocation lines which is shown by simulation.