Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Crystallization of amorphous Ge (or Si) has been studied as a function of temperature and the flux of ionizing radiation (or doping). The crystallization growth rate Vg takes on the form Vg = vo exp(−E/kT) where vo is an increasing function of flux (or doping). We propose the following to explain these data: A concentration of mobile dangling bonds (DBs) exists in the bulk and near the amorphous-crystalline (a-c) interface. Ionization and doping induce transitions from the uncharged state Do to the charged states D+ and D−. The process controlling crystallization resulting in the above activation energy is discussed. Only certain sites on the a-side of the a-c interface are available for crystallization, and these sites are those which have captured DBs. The charged D+; and D− states have a larger capture cross section than the uncharged Do state. Increased concentrations of charged DBs results in an enhancement of the prefactor in the above equation.
on leave from Université Paris VII, address above
MAP acknowledges the support of the General Electric Corporation