Faceting evolution during self-assembling of InAs/InP quantum wires

Abstract
The self-assembling of InAs quantum wires on (001) InP substrates during chemical beam epitaxy has been studied. The samples were characterized by reflection high-energy electron diffraction(RHEED),atomic force microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM). By monitoring the RHEED chevron structures along the [11̄0] direction, we studied the facets formation during the initial states of InAs growth. The facets angles measured by HRTEM are in perfect agreement with the angles between chevron streaks. A time dependence of the chevron streaks angles is reported and correlated to the wire formation. These results can be interpreted using nonequilibrium models existing in literature.