Strain and Stress Relationships for Optical Phonon Modes in Monoclinic Crystals with \u3cem\u3eβ\u3c/em\u3e-Ga\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3eO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e as an Example

Strain-stress relationships for physical properties are of interest for heteroepitaxial material systems, where strain and stress are inherent due to thermal expansion and lattice mismatch. We report linear perturbation theory strain and stress relationships for optical phonon modes in monoclinic crystals for strain and stress situations which maintain the monoclinic symmetry of the crystal. By using symmetry group analysis and phonon frequencies obtained under various deformation scenarios from density-functional perturbation theory calculations on β-Ga2O3, we obtain four strain and four stress potential parameters for each phonon mode. We demonstrate that these parameters are sufficient to describe the frequency shift of the modes regardless of the stress or strain pattern which maintain the monoclinic symmetry of the crystal. The deformation potentials can be used together with experimentally determined phonon frequency parameters from Raman or infrared spectroscopy to evaluate the state of strain or stress of β-Ga2O3, for example, in epitaxial heterostructures

Generalized Ellipsometry on Complex Nanostructures and Low-Symmetry Materials

In this thesis, complex anisotropic materials are investigated and characterized by generalized ellipsometry. In recent years, anisotropic materials have gained considerable interest for novel applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices, mostly due to unique properties that originate from reduced crystal symmetry. Examples include white solid-state lighting devices which have become ubiquitous just recently, and the emergence of high-power, high-voltage electronic transistors and switches in all-electric vehicles. The incorporation of single crystalline material with low crystal symmetry into novel device structures requires reconsideration of existing optical characterization approaches. Here, the generalized ellipsometry concept is extended to include applications for materials with monoclinic and triclinic symmetries. A model eigendielectric displacement vector approach is developed, described and utilized to characterize monoclinic materials. Materials are investigated in spectral regions spanning from the far-infrared to the vacuum ultraviolet. Examples are demonstrated for phonon mode determination in cadmium tungstate and yttrium silicate and for band-to-band transitions in gallia (β-Ga2O3) single crystals. Furthermore, the anisotropic optical properties of an emerging class of spatially coherent heterostructure materials with nanostructure dimensions are investigated. The so-called anisotropic effective medium approximation for slanted columnar thin films is extended to the concept of slanted columnar heterostructure thin films as well as core-shell heterostructure thin films. Examples include the determination of band-to-band transitions, phonon modes and oxidation properties of cobalt-oxide core shell structures and gas-liquid-solid distribution during controlled adsorption of organic solvents in silicon slanted columnar thin films

Generalized Ellipsometry on Complex Nanostructures and Low-Symmetry Materials

In this thesis, complex anisotropic materials are investigated and characterized by generalized ellipsometry. In recent years, anisotropic materials have gained considerable interest for novel applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices, mostly due to unique properties that originate from reduced crystal symmetry. Examples include white solid-state lighting devices which have become ubiquitous just recently, and the emergence of high-power, high-voltage electronic transistors and switches in all-electric vehicles. The incorporation of single crystalline material with low crystal symmetry into novel device structures requires reconsideration of existing optical characterization approaches. Here, the generalized ellipsometry concept is extended to include applications for materials with monoclinic and triclinic symmetries. A model eigendielectric displacement vector approach is developed, described and utilized to characterize monoclinic materials. Materials are investigated in spectral regions spanning from the far-infrared to the vacuum ultraviolet. Examples are demonstrated for phonon mode determination in cadmium tungstate and yttrium silicate and for band-to-band transitions in gallia (β-Ga2O3) single crystals. Furthermore, the anisotropic optical properties of an emerging class of spatially coherent heterostructure materials with nanostructure dimensions are investigated. The so-called anisotropic effective medium approximation for slanted columnar thin films is extended to the concept of slanted columnar heterostructure thin films as well as core-shell heterostructure thin films. Examples include the determination of band-to-band transitions, phonon modes and oxidation properties of cobalt-oxide core shell structures and gas-liquid-solid distribution during controlled adsorption of organic solvents in silicon slanted columnar thin films