Si, Ge, and Si1-xGex epitaxial layers and Si/Si1-xGex superlattices ha
ve been obtained on (100) and (111) silicon substrates by molecular-be
am epitaxy. The growth processes and the structural characteristics an
d chemical composition of the structures were studied by x-ray diffrac
tion and Auger spectroscopy. It is shown that under the experimental c
onditions for obtaining Si/Si1-xGex superlattices structurally perfect
, strained superlattices with satellites up to +/-5 orders can be obta
ined. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.