Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Kelvin Probe Microscopy has been used to characterize the magnitude and spatial distribution of reproducible characteristic residual potential in electron beam irradiated silicon on insulator specimens (SIMOX). Focussed electron beam irradiation produces trapped charge within the insulating buried oxide layer which produces highly localized electric fields. The charging processes are dynamic, localized, and dependent on pre-existing and irradiation induced defect concentrations. The characteristic experimental surface potential distributions are compared with calculated model surface potential distributions. This work demonstrates that proximal probe methods which are usually considered to be surface analysis techniques, can be used to investigate subsurface properties and give insight into subsurface charging processes.