Indium-indium pair correlation and surface segregation in InGaAs alloys

In-In pair correlations and In surface segregation in InxGa1-xAs alloys are studied by first-principles total-energy calculations. By calculating the substitution energy of a single In atom, we find that the nearsurface energ etics explains the observed In segregation on InGaAs(001)-beta 2(2 X 4) sur faces. Indium surface segregation further enhances the In site selectivity, thus the long-range ordering. We find that the [110] and [001] In-In pair correlations are repulsive and nearly isotropic in bulk but are highly anis otropic near the (001) surface. The sign of the [110] In-In interaction ene rgies vs the distance from the surface is oscillatory. These findings expla in the recent puzzling cross-sectional X-STM results.