Formation of a hexagonal silicon phase after pulsed laser excitation

Abstract

The formation, via pulsed laser excitation, from amorphous material of a new crystalline silicon phase with a hexagonal structure is described. The lattice image obtained by high-resolution electron microscopy and the selected-area diffraction patterns provide direct information on this amorphous-to-crystalline transition. It is proposed that laser-induced electronic excitation of amorphous material plays a dominant role in this metastable phase formation.