Discover
/
Article

Probing Semiconductor‐Semiconductor Interfaces

JAN 01, 1987
Synchrotron radiation studies are shedding light on the theoretically complex regions between different semiconductors, bringing closer the goal of predicting band structures at the meV accuracies necessary for device applications.
Robert S. Bauer
Giorgio Margaritondo

Almost every aspect of modern life is affected by a practical result of research in condensed matter physics: semiconductor devices. The performance of these solid‐state devices is determined largely by the physical properties of the interfaces within them. It is the properties of interfaces in rectifying metal‐semiconductor junctions, ohmic contacts, metal‐oxide‐semiconductor structures and p‐n junctions, for example, that determine the performance of such devices as infrared detectors, microwave amplifiers, computer processors and laser diodes, respectively.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. R. L. Anderson, Solid State Electron. 5, 341 (1964). https://doi.org/SSELA5
    C. Mailhiot, C. B. Duke, Phys. Rev. B 33, 1118 (1986).https://doi.org/PRBMDO

  2. 2. J. L. Freeouf, J. M. Woodall, Surf. Sci. 168, 518 (1986).https://doi.org/SUSCAS

  3. 3. W. A. Harrison, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 3, 1231 (1985).https://doi.org/JVTBD9

  4. 4. P. Vogl, H. P. Hjalmarson, J. D. Dow, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 44, 365 (1983).https://doi.org/JPCSAW

  5. 5. W. R. Frensley, H. Kroemer, Phys. Rev. B 16, 2642 (1977).https://doi.org/PLRBAQ

  6. 6. J. M. Langer, H. Heinrich, Phys. Rev. Lett. 55, 1414 (1985). https://doi.org/PRLTAO
    M. J. Caldas, A. Fazzio, A. Zunger, Appl. Phys. Lett. 45, 671 (1984).https://doi.org/APPLAB

  7. 7. M. L. Cohen, Adv. Electron. Electron Phys. 51, 1 (1980), and references therein.https://doi.org/AEEPAR

  8. 8. J. Tersoff, Phys. Rev. B 30, 4874 (1984). https://doi.org/PRBMDO
    Y.‐C. Ruan, W. Y. Ching, J. Appl. Phys. 60, 4035 (1986).https://doi.org/JAPIAU

  9. 9. C. Tejedor, F. Flores, J. Phys. C 11, L19 (1978).https://doi.org/JPSOAW

  10. 10. E. O. Kane, Phys. Rev. B 33, 4428 (1986); https://doi.org/PRBMDO
    E. O. Kane, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 4, 1051 (1986).https://doi.org/JVTBD9

  11. 11. A. Zur, T. C. McGill, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 2, 440 (1984).https://doi.org/JVTBD9

  12. 12. R. S. Bauer, J. C. McMenamin, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 15, 1444 (1978).https://doi.org/JVSTAL

  13. 13. P. Perfetti, D. Denley, K. A. Mills, D. A. Shirley, Appl. Phys. Lett. 33, 66 (1978).https://doi.org/APPLAB

  14. 14. A. D. Katnani, G. Margaritondo, Phys. Rev. B 28, 1944 (1983); https://doi.org/PRBMDO
    P. H. Mahowald, R. S. List, W. E. Spicer, J. Woicik, P. Pianetta, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 3, 1252 (1985); https://doi.org/JVTBD9
    J. R. Waldrop, R. W. Grant, S. P. Kowalczyk, E. A. Kraut, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 3, 835 (1985); and references therein.https://doi.org/JVTAD6

  15. 15. P. Zurcher, R. S. Bauer, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 1, 695 (1983).https://doi.org/JVTAD6

  16. 16. F. Capasso, A. Y. Cho, K. Mohammed, P. W. Foy, Appl. Phys. Letters 46, 664 (1985).https://doi.org/APPLAB

  17. 17. R. S. Bauer, H. W. SangJr., Surf. Sci. 132, 479 (1983). https://doi.org/SUSCAS
    D. W. Niles, G. Margaritondo, P. Perfetti, C. Quaresima, M. Capozi, Appl. Phys. Lett. 47, 1092 (1985). https://doi.org/APPLAB
    F. J. Grunthaner, P. J. Grunthaner, M. H. Hecht, N. M. Johnson, Mater. Sci. Rep. 1, 1 (1986).https://doi.org/MSREEL

  18. 18. A. D. Katnani, P. Chiaradia, Y. Cho, P. Mahowald, P. Pianetta, R. S. Bauer, Phys. Rev. B 32, 4071 (1985).https://doi.org/PRBMDO

More about the authors

Robert S. Bauer, Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, Palo Alto, California.

Giorgio Margaritondo, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Related content
/
Article
A half century after the discovery of Hawking radiation, we are still dealing with the quantum puzzle it exposed.
/
Article
Since the discovery was first reported in 1999, researchers have uncovered many aspects of the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
/
Article
Metrologists are using fundamental physics to define units of measure. Now NIST has developed new quantum sensors to measure and realize the pascal.
/
Article
Nanoscale, topologically protected whirlpools of spins have the potential to move from applications in spintronics into quantum science.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1987_01.jpeg

Volume 40, Number 1

Get PT newsletters in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.