Self-organization of a periodic structure between amorphous and crystalline phases in a GeTe thin film induced by femtosecond laser pulse amorphization

Abstract

A self-organized fringe pattern in a single amorphous mark of a GeTe thin film was formed by multiple femtosecond pulse amorphization. Micro Raman measurement indicates that the fringe is a periodic alternation between crystalline and amorphous phases. The period of the fringe is smaller than the irradiation wavelength and the direction is parallel to the polarization direction. Snapshot observation revealed that the fringe pattern manifests itself via a complex but coherent process, which is attributed to crystallization properties unique to a nonthermally amorphized phase and the distinct optical contrast between crystalline and amorphous phases.