<i>In</i> <i>situ</i> real-time study of chemical etching process of Si(100) using light scattering

Abstract

We report the development of an in situ real-time light scattering technique to study the wet chemical etching process of Si(100). Based on a simple scattering theory, the number of etch pits and other statistical parameters such as correlation length and interface width on a pitted surface are extracted from the scattering profile. The time evolution of the surface morphology can be interpreted by a simple rate equation.