Elastic properties of GaAs/AlAs superlattices

Abstract

Elastic properties of GaAs/AlAs superlattices have been investigated with use of Brillouin scattering. No evidence of anomalous elastic behavior, such as that reported in many metallic superlattices, is observed. The absence of an anomaly in GaAs/AlAs is consistent with a number of different theories that have been proposed to explain the effects in metallic systems. We also present experimentally determined elastic constants of pure AlAs [${\mathit{C}}_{11}$=(12.1±0.2)×${10}^{11}$ dyn/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$ and ${\mathit{C}}_{44}$=(4.74±0.08)×${10}^{11}$ dyn/${\mathrm{cm}}^2$] and compare them with previous estimates.