Silicium germanium (SiGe) is a completely miscible alloy with a lattic
e mismatch to the Si substrate of up to 4.17%. Accommodation of lattic
e mismatch f causes elastic strain epsilon, and/or misfit dislocations
and surface corrugations. Onset of misfit dislocation generation take
s place above a critical thickness t(c) which is dependant on mismatch
and growth temperature. Critical thicknesses are compared for equilib
rium models (Matthews-Blakeslee, > 750 degrees C) with fit curves for
550 degrees C growth experiments (People-Bean). The most important fac
tors for successful silicon based heterodevices are analyzed, and as a
ttractive areas for future research are defined; heterobipolar transis
tors (HBT) for high frequency communication, complementary heterojunct
ion field effect transistors (HFET) fdr digital logic, 1.3 mu m wavegu
ide receivers for opto/microelectronics integration and self assembled
quantum dot devices :For multifunctional long term applications. Trea
tment of surface corrugations, adatom behaviour, surfactant phenomena
and surface passivation of devices will be an essential part of future
device oriented research.