LIGHT-INDUCED EFFECTS ON THE GROWTH AND DOPING OF WIDE-BANDGAP-II-VI COMPOUNDS

The effects of bandgap light irradiation on the growth and the doping from the vapour phase of wide-gap II-VI compounds are reviewed. These effects rely on the interaction of the photogenerated carriers with the species present at the surface: molecular reagents (for MOVCD), adatoms, vacancies. The main observations are: enhanced decomposition of adsorbed molecules, enhanced desorption of chemisorbed atoms, higher surface mobility leading to a better crystalline quality, reduction of impurity compensation. The mechanisms of interaction are illustrated by means of simple microscopic models.