Core structures analyses of (a plus c)-edge dislocations in wurtzite GaN through atomistic simulations and Peierls-Nabarro model

The core structures and slip characteristics of (a+c)-edge dislocations on pyramidal planes in wurtzite GaN were investigated employing molecular dynamics simulations. Multiple stable core configurations are identified for dislocations along the glide and shuffle planes. The corresponding generalized-stacking-fault energy (GSFE) curves for the glide and shuffle slips are calculated. The GSFE curves, combined with the Peierls-Nabarro model, demonstrate that the shuffle slip is favored over the glide slip given the markedly lower Peierls energy and stress of the shuffle slip. Our findings also indicate that in general slip motions for (a+c)-edge dislocations are only possible at elevated temperature, and the necessity of further studies of thermally activated processes to better understand the dynamics of (a+c) dislocations in GaN. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.