Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Advances in the study of high speed crystal growth from the melt arereviewed, with special emphasis on the fast melting and solidification ofsilicon achieved by use of Q-switched laser radiation pulses. Rapid meltingof amorphous Si is confirmed to yield a liquid undercooled by severalhundred Kelvins and, under suitable conditions, explosive crystal growthprocesses can occur. The latter involve the self-sustaining propagation ofmelt bands buried within the initially amorphous material. When the highestquench-rate conditions are established melting of even crystalline Si canyield a final amorphous solid phase. This breakdown in crystal growth isorientation dependent and can give regimes of crystal defect formation whenamor-phization does not take place. The processes which characterize thislimiting growth behaviour are discussed.