The redistribution of nitrogen atoms implanted in synthetic diamond crystal
s was investigated by secondary ion mass-spectrometry in course of an isoth
ermal annealing program at 1400 degreesC during 1, 5 and 20 h. It was shown
that the nitrogen profiles spread at a macroscopic scale, and the broadeni
ng is well described in terms of the diffusion movement of impurity atoms.
The preliminary estimates of diffusion coefficients were obtained: 2.3 x 10
(-15) cm(2)/s for 1 h annealing, 8.5 x 10(-16) cm(2)/s for 5 h annealing an
d 3.7 x 10(-16) cm(2)/s for 20 h annealing. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V.
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