Photoluminescence of GaN: Effect of electron irradiation

Abstract

The effect of electron irradiation on the optical properties of GaN material with various electrical conductivity (i.e., n type, compensated, and p type) is studied in detail by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Electron irradiation with a dose <1017 cm−2 is found to have a minor effect on photoluminescence, indicating a high radiation resistance of GaN. For higher doses, two major effects of electron irradiation on PL properties can be distinguished, i.e., radiation-induced quenching of the PL, likely caused by a radiation-induced formation of competing recombination channels, and radiation-induced formation/activation of new optically active centers.