We demonstrate an optical two-beam deflection setup for irt situ stres
s measurements in thin films. By using improved position sensitive pho
todetectors we reach a resolution of better than 10(-4) m(-1) for subs
trate curvature measurement at a bandwidth of 1 kHz, with a relatively
short optical path of 0.53 m and without employing a lock-in techniqu
e. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics.