Temperature characterization of Raman scattering in an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure.

Raman scattering from an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure was performed in the temperature range from 77 to 773 K. The first- and second-order Raman scattering of the A₁ longitudinal-optical phonon-plasmon coupled mode from an AlGaN/GaN interface as well as the Raman scattering from the GaN layer were observed. All the modes downshift, and their intensities weaken with increasing temperature. The free-carrier concentration estimated by the frequency of the coupled mode from an AlGaN/GaN interface is 7.5 times as high as that of n-AlGaN, indicating mass free-carrier transfer from the AlGaN barrier to the GaN well. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the phonon frequency is well described by an empirical formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]