It was shown that systematic variations in the experimental parameters could turn multi-layers into so-called microscopic laboratories for the study of point defects. In this way, the effects of composition, doping and strain could be separated. It was also possible to determine the nature and charge state of the mediating defect. The present results showed that interdiffusion in the present system was mediated by a double-acceptor vacancy-like defect. The activation energy, in the case of In0.52Al0.48As, was equal to 4eV. Its value varied to the extent of 0.051eV for every percent of strain.

F.H.Baumann, J.H.Huang, J.A.Rentschler, T.Y.Chang, A.Ourmazd: Physical Review Letters, 1994, 73[3], 448-51