Equilibrium phase diagrams for dislocation free self-assembled quantum dots

Abstract

The equilibrium theory of self-assembled quantum dot (SAQD) formation can account for many of the experimentally observed growth modes. Here, we show that despite the large number of material constants entering the free energy of strained islands, there are only four topologically different phase diagrams describing the SAQD formation process. We derive each of these phase diagrams and discuss the physical properties of the predicted growth modes.