Highly regular self-organization of step bunches during growth of SiGe on Si(113)

Abstract
We have studied the structural properties of highly periodic arrays of terrace steps in a Si/SiGe multilayer grown on a miscut Si(113) substrate by atomic force microscopy,x-ray reflection and high resolution x-ray diffraction. The data reveal a regular array of step bunches with vertical correlation within the multilayer and periodic surface steps extending over lengths of several tens of microns. The (113)-faceted terraces have a lateral period of about 360 nm which is locally modulated due to a long-range waviness of the surface.