Abstract
Results of self-consistent energy-minimization calculations provide strong evidence that the ordered phases in epitaxially grown and strained alloys are metastable, in the sense that segregation into constituents is favored. We show that the long-range order in intermediate metastable structures leads to significant changes in the electronic properties of semiconductor superlattices. Segregation gives rise to micro-quantum-wells with staggered band lineup and multiple confined states in the potential barrier.
- Received 8 August 1986
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.2114
©1987 American Physical Society