Polarization-dependent laser crystallization of Se-containing amorphous chalcogenide films

We report about the observation of influence of the light polarization on t he photocrystallization process in the Se70Ag15I15, elementary Se and Se80T e20 films. Irradiation with linearly polarized He-Ne and Ar+ laser light re sults in the formation of polycrystalline films with strong optical anisotr opy (dichroism), the sign of which is determined by the direction of the el ectrical vector of light. In the laser-crystallized Se80Te20 films we obser ved also the anisotropy of the photoconductivity. The results obtained indi cate that the laser-induced crystallization has a nonthermal character. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.