Electron effective mass in Al{sub 0.72}Ga{sub 0.28}N alloys determined by mid-infrared optical Hall effect

The effective electron mass parameter in Si-doped Al{sub 0.72}Ga{sub 0.28}N is determined to be m{sup ∗}=(0.336±0.020) m{sub 0} from mid-infrared optical Hall effect measurements. No significant anisotropy of the effective electron mass parameter is found supporting theoretical predictions. Assuming a linear change of the effective electron mass with the Al content in AlGaN alloys and m{sup ∗}=0.232 m{sub 0} for GaN, an average effective electron mass of m{sup ∗}=0.376 m{sub 0} can be extrapolated for AlN. The analysis of mid-infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements further confirms the two phonon mode behavior of the E{sub 1}(TO) and one phonon mode behavior of the A{sub 1}(LO) phonon mode in high-Al-content AlGaN alloys as seen in previous Raman scattering studies.