Evidence Against a Reduced Melting Temperature in Amorphous Silicon

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Abstract
Experimental results are presented which indicate that amorphous silicon does not melt at a temperature significantly lower than the melting point of crystalline silicon (1693°K), contrary to recent reports which suggest a 300 to 500°K melting point depression. Time-resolved optical reflectivity measurements are used to determine the temperature and to investigate phase changes which occur in silicon during cw laser heating. It is shown that amorphous silicon films produced by arsenic implantation into Si(100) do not melt when heated to temperatures in excess of 1600°K. An alternate interpretation of previous work that is consistent with the present findings is proposed.