Spatially resolved photoluminescence in partially ordered GaInP2

Scanning confocal microscopy combined with high-resolution spectroscopy is used to probe the spatial variations in the low-temperature (5.0 K) photoluminescence (PL) of partially ordered GaInP2 with a spatial resolution of 0.7 mu m. We observe large regions (1-2 mu m) wherein the excitonic PL is suppressed up to a factor of four ("defect- rich" regions) when compared to unaffected areas. These defect-rich regions show a commensurate enhancement in the lower energy below gap emission. The spatial extent of this effect is inconsistent with the picture that the low-energy emission originates solely at the antiphase boundaries of the ordered domains and therefore must originate from other defects within the ordered domain as well. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02005-7].