Muonium transitions in Ge-rich SiGe alloys

Abstract

We discuss charge-state and site-change transitions of muonium (Mu) in bulk Czochralski-grown Si1-xGex alloys studied via longitudinal field muon spin relaxation (LF-mu SR). A useful application of the muon spin research technique utilizes the similarities of neutral muonium (Mu(0)=mu(+)e(-)) to the hydrogen atom to provide an experimentally accessible analog to hydrogen. This contribution focuses primarily on three Ge-rich samples (x=0.94, 0.91 and 0.81) as well as a general discussion of the compositional trends of Mu chemical states and associated transition dynamics. These LF-mu SR results, in conjunction with prior muon spin research studies, allow an extensive description of Mu defect chemistry in Si1-xGex as part of a larger project that has focused on the compositional trends in Mu hyperfine frequencies as well as the acceptor and donor energies. Published by Elsevier B.V.