Mechanisms affecting the photoluminescence spectra of GaInNAs after post-growth annealing

We have investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction the influence of ex situ postgrowth annealing on the properties of a series of dedicated Ga(In)(N)As ternary and quaternary quantum wells (QWs) confined by various barrier layers. We show that the low growth temperature and not N per se, is largely responsible for the low radiative efficiency of Ga(In)NAs QWs. Furthermore, postgrowth annealing induces a blueshift of the photoluminescence line in the case of quaternary GaInNAs QWs only, while x-ray diffraction reveals the absence of compositional change. We conclude with the occurrence of a local reorganization of the N-bonding configuration within the GaInNAs quaternary material during annealing. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.