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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 March 2011
Crystallization of spatially isolated amorphous zones in Si, Ge, GaP, InPand GaAs was stimulated thermally and by irradiation with electrons andphotons. The amorphous zones were created by a 50 keV Xe+implantation. Significant thermal crystallization occurred at temperaturesgreater than 425 K, 375 K and 200 K in Si, Ge and GaAs, respectively.Electrons with energies between 25 and 300 keV stimulated crystallization inall materials at temperatures between 90 K and room temperature. Forelectron energies above the displacement threshold, the crystallization ratedecreased as the electron energy decreased. As the electron energy wasdecreased below approximately 100 keV, the crystallization rate unexpectedlyincreased. The crystallization rate was independent of temperature for allelectron irradiations. Irradiation with a 532 nm green laser (hv= 2.33 eV) caused crystallization in Si (Eg = 1.11 eV) and Ge (Eg = 0.67 eV) at a rate comparable to a thermal anneal at 425 Kand 375 K, respectively, and caused minimal crystallization in GaP (Eg = 2.26 eV). The electron and photon irradiation results areconsistent with the model that crystallization is controlled by defects(dangling bonds and kinks) created by electronic excitation at theamorphous-crystalline interface.