Two-dimensional carrier gas at a polar interface without surface band gap states: A first-principles perspective

Abstract

We present first-principles calculations of the interface between GaN and strained AlN, using a slab model in which polarization is compensated via surface fractional-charge pseudo-hydrogen atoms. We show that an interface two-dimensional carrier electron or hole gas emerges naturally in response to different compensating surface charges, but that this need not involve in-gap surface states.