Optimizing GaAs/AlGaAs Growth on GaAs (111)B for Enhanced Nonlinear Efficiency in Quantum Optical Metasurfaces

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Blaikie, T., Tam, M. C., Stich, S., Belkin, M., Wasilewski, Z. R.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Blaikie, T.
Tam, M. C.
Stich, S.
Belkin, M.
Wasilewski, Z. R.
author_facet Blaikie, T.
Tam, M. C.
Stich, S.
Belkin, M.
Wasilewski, Z. R.
contents This study is an optimization of GaAs and Al$_{0.55}$Ga$_{0.45}$As growth on GaAs (111)B substrates with a surface misorientation of 2° towards [$\bar{2}$11], aiming to enhance surface morphology. For quantum optical metasurfaces (QOMs) the change from (001) growth to (111) growth will increase the efficiency of the nonlinear process of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC). This work identifies key factors affecting surface roughness, including the detrimental effects of traditional thermal oxide desorption, which prevented growth of smooth surfaces. A novel Ga-assisted oxide desorption method using Ga flux "pulses" was developed, successfully removing oxides while preserving surface quality. In-situ characterization techniques, including reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and a novel technique called Diffuse Laser Scattering (DLS), were employed to monitor and control the oxide removal process. Mounting quarter wafers with sapphire substrates as optical diffusers improved surface uniformity by mitigating temperature gradients. The uniformity of the growths was clearly visualized by an in-house technique called black box scattering (BBS) imaging. Indium (In) was tested as a surfactant to promote step-flow growth in GaAs, which resulted in atomic-scale flatness with root mean square (RMS) roughness as low as 0.256 nm. In combination with a higher growth temperature, the RMS roughness of Al$_{0.55}$Ga$_{0.45}$As layers was reduced to 0.302 nm. The optimized growth methods achieved acceptable roughness levels for QOM fabrication, with ongoing efforts to apply these techniques to various devices based on GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures with (111) orientation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_01073
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optimizing GaAs/AlGaAs Growth on GaAs (111)B for Enhanced Nonlinear Efficiency in Quantum Optical Metasurfaces
Blaikie, T.
Tam, M. C.
Stich, S.
Belkin, M.
Wasilewski, Z. R.
Materials Science
This study is an optimization of GaAs and Al$_{0.55}$Ga$_{0.45}$As growth on GaAs (111)B substrates with a surface misorientation of 2° towards [$\bar{2}$11], aiming to enhance surface morphology. For quantum optical metasurfaces (QOMs) the change from (001) growth to (111) growth will increase the efficiency of the nonlinear process of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC). This work identifies key factors affecting surface roughness, including the detrimental effects of traditional thermal oxide desorption, which prevented growth of smooth surfaces. A novel Ga-assisted oxide desorption method using Ga flux "pulses" was developed, successfully removing oxides while preserving surface quality. In-situ characterization techniques, including reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and a novel technique called Diffuse Laser Scattering (DLS), were employed to monitor and control the oxide removal process. Mounting quarter wafers with sapphire substrates as optical diffusers improved surface uniformity by mitigating temperature gradients. The uniformity of the growths was clearly visualized by an in-house technique called black box scattering (BBS) imaging. Indium (In) was tested as a surfactant to promote step-flow growth in GaAs, which resulted in atomic-scale flatness with root mean square (RMS) roughness as low as 0.256 nm. In combination with a higher growth temperature, the RMS roughness of Al$_{0.55}$Ga$_{0.45}$As layers was reduced to 0.302 nm. The optimized growth methods achieved acceptable roughness levels for QOM fabrication, with ongoing efforts to apply these techniques to various devices based on GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures with (111) orientation.
title Optimizing GaAs/AlGaAs Growth on GaAs (111)B for Enhanced Nonlinear Efficiency in Quantum Optical Metasurfaces
topic Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.01073