Laser ablation of semiconductors presents an increasing interest for d
ifferent purposes, such as surface modification. Morphologic and struc
tural changes induced by UV-pulsed laser beams on GaAs and Si are stud
ied by means of surface topography (optical interferometry) and micro-
Raman spectroscopy. Crystal order and chemical composition (stoichiome
try and dopant distribution) are shown to be changed by the ablation w
ith energy above the melting threshold. Results are compared for GaAs
and Si substrates.