Influence of the dipole interaction energy on clustering in InxGa1-xN alloys

The interactions of the polarization-induced dipole moments at each unit ce ll in InxGa1 - xN alloys have been studied using analytical electrostatic d ipole energy calculations to determine their potential influence on local m aterial composition. Clustering of In atoms along the [0001] direction and anticlustering of In in the (0001) plane are shown to be energetically favo rable. Comparisons of the dipole interaction energy to the strain energy an d the energy associated with the decreased entropy of the ordered configura tions show that the dipole interaction energy could have a substantial infl uence on local composition in InxGa1 - xN alloys. (C) 2001 American Institu te of Physics.