Thermal and pulsed laser evaporation of single phase As_xP _1-x alloys

The atomic and molecular species evolved during thermal and pulsed laser evaporation of single phase As_xP_1-x alloys have been examined using mass spectroscopy. Thermal evaporation yields tetratomic molecules of the form As_4-nP_n (n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4) as well as diatomic As₂, P₂, and AsP. Pulsed laser vaporization using a Q-switched train of 1.06-μ neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) pulses primarily evolves atomic As and P species, some fraction of which are ionized. The generation of atomic beams containing one or more of the group V elements from a homogeneous source of controllable stoichiometry has some potential applications for the growth of optoelectronic thin films.