X-ray-absorption fine-structure spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction hav
e been used to study the local atomic structure of four different shor
t-period ZnTe/CdSe (001) superlattices grown by molecular-beam epitaxy
. The data indicate Zn-Se and Cd-Te coordination numbers greater than
those expected for sharp interfaces in the superlattice. Although stra
in would appear to suppress interdiffusion,it is shown that the result
s are consistent with an interchange of the Zn and Cd atomic planes ac
ross the Zn-Se interface and Se and Te atomic planes across the Cd-Te
interface. Theoretically, this switch of atomic planes has been shown
to be energetically favorable by comparing the changes in chemical bon
d-formation energies and strain energies between a perfect superlattic
e and one with the above-mentioned switching of atomic planes. Accommo
dation of this strain is shown through bond bending and bond stretchin
g at the newly formed interfaces.