Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Solid-phase epitaxial growth (SPEG) of amorphous GeSi alloy layers has beenexamined. It is shown that fully strained depth dependent GeSi alloy layerscan be produced by multiple ion-implantation and SPEG for implant dosesbelow critical values. For doses above these critical values strainrelaxation is shown to occur during SPEG at a well defined depth, and to becorrelated with a reduction in the SPEG velocity caused by roughening orfaceting of the crystalline/amorphous interface. The velocity reduction isshown to be a reliable indicator of strain relaxation. Both the criticaldose and the depth at which strain relaxation occurs are shown to be inexcellent agreement with equilibrium critical thickness theory.