Study of the first-stage relaxation in ZnTe/(001)CdTe strained layers

Abstract
The first stages of the growth of highly strained ZnTe on (001) CdTe are studied in details by reflection high-energy electron diffraction analysis. Below the critical thickness, small lattice oscillations attributed to a nontetragonal elastic distortion are observed on a system in tensile stress. An effect of Zn excess pressure on the critical thickness is demonstrated. Exposure at 280 °C of the CdTe(001) surface under Zn flux leads to the formation of a c(2×2) Zn terminated surface with about 50% Zn coverage. Such a pretreatment reduces the critical thickness by about half a monolayer.