Abstract
Semiconductor alloys have become increasingly useful during the last four decades because, through the use of alloys, the properties of semiconductors can be tailored by varying the composition to precisely match the requirements for specific electronic and photonic devices. In addition the use of alloys allows the production of special structures, such as quantum wells, that require rapid changes in bandgap energy during growth. This has led to so-called “bandgap engineering,” in which device designers and epitaxial growers are working together to produce structures having virtually atomic-scale dimensions.