Although the AlxGa1−xAs alloy system has been extensively investigated, there are still considerable uncertainties in measuring the value ofx. Here a new AlxGa1−xAs calibration structure, grown by molecular beam epitaxy, has been used to establish unambiguous alloy compositions. Such “standard’’ AlxGa1−xAs layers were measured by high-resolution x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and Raman spectroscopy to determine the compositional variations of the measured physical parameters. The phenomenological equations derived from these measurements can now be used to establish the Al content of unknown alloys with confidence. In addition, the results show that Vegard’s law does not hold for the variation of the AlxGa1−xAs lattice constant withx. The small quadratic term has very important implications for a correct analysis of x-ray results. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.