Extended defects in electron-beam pumped blue and blue/green laser structures were studied. In order to establish a direct correlation, between local luminescence and the presence of structural defects, the same thin-foil samples were examined sequentially using transmission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence microscopy. It was found that most of the non-radiative defects had one or more threading dislocations in their vicinity. On the other hand, stacking faults did not generally give rise to non-radiative recombination centers. In some cases, non-radiative defects were detected using cathodoluminescence microscopy but no extended-defect counterpart was observed using transmission electron microscopy.

J.M.Bonard, J.D.Ganière, L.Vanzetti, J.J.Paggel, L.Sorba, A.Franciosi, D.Hervé, E.Molva: Journal of Applied Physics, 1998, 83[4], 1945-52