Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 July 2004
The influence of the laser annealing on the defect structure of the near-surface layer of silicon crystal implanted with 40 keV Ge ions is reported. Evolution of defect structure during nanosecond pulse laser annealing is characterised by means of several complementary methods: reflection high-energy electron diffraction, interference-polarizing microscopy, Rutherford back-scattering and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Regions irradiated with different energy densities of the laser beam are compared. The role of the dopant in the layer recrystallised from the melt is discussed.