Microscopy of Si films during laser melting

By using an optical microscope to directly observe thin Si films as they are melted with a cw argon laser beam, the crystallization process can be better understood. In an environment containing oxygen, stable filaments of solid silicon precipitate from the molten pool at low laser power. The surrounding melt may contain dissolved oxygen which reduces the melting point, allowing the liquid and solid to coexist. As laser power is increased a uniform molten pool is achieved. In emitted light the pool is dark compared to the surrounding solid due to the melt’s low emissivity. The spectrum of this emitted thermal radiation accurately fits the Planck law at 1740 °K, confirming the temperature of the melt.