Spirals were observed on InP grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy
. Atomic force microscopy is the technique used. The growth took place
on a vicinal surface and the growth mechanism is according to the cla
ssical Burton-Cabrera-Frank theory. Spirals originate from screw dislo
cations. Successive turns of steps are sent out by the dislocations. T
hese steps are generally of monolayer height (0.29 nm) except close to
the dislocation emergence points where they are submonolayers. It is
predicted that spiral growth will become the dominant mechanism if the
vicinal steps are eliminated.