Electron effective mass in Al0.72Ga0.28N alloys determined by mid-infrared optical Hall effect

The effective electron mass parameter in Si-doped Al0.72Ga0.28N is determined to be m* = (0.336 +/- 0.020) m(0) from mid-infrared optical Hall effect measurements. No significant anisotropy of the effective electron mass parameter is found supporting theoretical predictions. Assuming a linear change of the effective electron mass with the Al content in AlGaN alloys and m* = 0.232m(0) for GaN, an average effective electron mass of m* = 0.376m(0) can be extrapolated for AlN. The analysis of mid-infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements further confirms the two phonon mode behavior of the E-1(TO) and one phonon mode behavior of the A(1)(LO) phonon mode in high-Al-content AlGaN alloys as seen in previous Raman scattering studies. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.