Lattice dynamics in GaN and AlN probed with first‐ and second‐order Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

We present a selection of our contributions to basic research on the lattice dynamical properties of groupIII nitrides and their alloys. We used first-order Raman scattering to determine the zone-center phonons and their dependence on structural attributes such as stress, chemical composition, impurities, and doping. Results on the angular dispersion of the polar modes, strain distribution, coupled LO-phonon plasmon modes, multi-mode behavior in AlxGa1–xN, and the quantitative determination of the phase purity of cubic and hexagonal GaN are shown. Second-order Raman-scattering experiments on GaN and AlN provide information on the vibrational states throughout the entire Brillouin zone. Based on a comparison of experimental data and calculated phonon-dispersion curves we assigned the observed structures to particular phonon branches and points in the Brillouin zone. We also discuss the behavior of the optical modes under large hydrostatic pressure.