A large variation in wavelength from the ultraviolet to longer than 2
mu m could be achieved in the GaN-rich side of the GaN1-xAsx alloy due
to the large bowing of bandgap energy. Layers of GaN1-xAsx are grown
on (0001) sapphire substrates by electron cyclotron resonance molecula
r beam epitaxy (ECR-MBE) using an ion-removed ECR radical cell after t
he growth of GaN buffer layers. During the growth of GaN1-xAsx layers,
a streaky reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) pattern
was observed. The excitonic photoluminescence (PL) peak from the GaN-
rich side of the GaN1-xAsx layer shows a large red shift as the As con
tent changes. When an As content of up to x=0.009 is attained, a bandg
ap bowing parameter of 19.6 eV is experimentally obtained. Such a larg
e value of the bowing parameter is promising for applications to optic
al devices operating over wide range of wavelength.