Collective effects of interface roughness and alloy disorder in In_xGa_1-xN/GaN multiple quantum wells

The collective effects of alloy disorder and interface roughness on optical properties of In_xGa_1-xN/GaN multiple quantum wells (MQWs) have been studied. The results are compared with those of GaN/AlGaN MQWs and InGaN epilayers. In_xGa_1-xN/GaN MQWs emit a broad and asymmetrical photoluminescence (PL) band, while GaN/AlGaN MQWs and InGaN epilayers emit narrower and Gaussian-shaped PL bands. Furthermore, the decay of excitons at low temperatures in In_xGa_1-xN/GaN MQWs follows a nonexponential function even at the lower-energy side of the PL spectral peak, while those in GaN/AlGaN MQWs and in InGaN epilayers follow a single exponential function. Both alloy disorder and interface roughness have to be included in order to interpret the PL emission spectrum and the decay dynamics in In_xGa_1-xN/GaN MQWs. Important parameters of the In_xGa_1-xN/GaN MQWs, σ_x,σ_L, and dτ/dL, denoting the alloy disorder, the interface roughness, and the rate of changing of the exciton decay lifetime with well width, respectively, have been deduced. The method developed here can be used to determine σ_x,σ_L, and dτ/dL in any MQW systems with wells being alloy materials.