Analysis of contrasts and identifications of Burgers vectors for basal-plane dislocations and threading edge dislocations in 4H-SiC crystals observed by monochromatic synchrotron X-ray topography in grazing-incidence Bragg-case geometry

Abstract

Contrasts of dislocations in the sub-surface region of the Si-face of a 4H-SiC wafer were observed by monochromatic synchrotron X-ray topography in grazing-incidence Bragg-case geometry. Basal-plane dislocations show very characteristic contrast depending on their Burgers vectors, running directions, and types of dislocations, whether they are screw dislocations, C-core edge dislocations, or Si-core edge dislocations. The rules for contrasts of basal-plane dislocations are summarized. It is shown that by observing those contrasts at fixed diffraction conditions, Burgers vectors of the basal-plane dislocation can be identified without performing a g · b analysis in some cases. Threading edge dislocations also have very characteristic contrasts depending on the angles between the projected g and their Burgers vectors. It is shown that Burgers vectors of threading edge dislocations can be determined uniquely by observing their characteristic contrasts without performing g · b analysis. Contrast mechanisms for these dislocations in grazing-incidence X-ray topography are discussed.

Keywords:

• SiC
• dislocations
• Burgers vector
• X-ray topography
• grazing-incidence

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for helpful discussions with Prof. Ando at Meijo University, and Prof. Saka at Nagoya University. This work was performed under the project ‘Development of inverter systems for power electronics (2006–2008)’ conducted by the New Energy Development Organization.