Electronic and optical properties of (GaN)(n)/(AlN)(n) (001) superlattices

The band structure of the short period zinc-blende (GaN)(n)/(AIN)(n) (001) superlattices has been calculated by means of semi-empirical tight-binding sp(3) s* method. The superlattices energy gap dependence on layer number n is given out. On the basis of the calculated eigenfunctions and eigenvalues of the superlattices (SL), the imaginary parts of the dielectric function epsilon(2)(omega) of (GaN)(n)/(AIN)(n) (001) superlattices were obtained. I n order to compare with the optical properties of bulk zinc-blende GaN and AIN, we also calculated epsilon(2)(omega) of the two compounds. It is shown that there are some discernible effects due to confinement and superlattic e periodicity.