Raman scattering study of the a-GeTe structure and possible mechanism for the amorphous to crystal transition
Abstract
We report on an inelastic (Raman) light scattering study of the local structure of amorphous GeTe (a-GeTe) films. A detailed analysis of the temperature-reduced Raman spectra has shown that appreciable structural changes occur as a function of temperature. These changes involve modifications of atomic arrangements such as to facilitate the rapid amorphous to crystal transformation, which is the major advantage of phase-change materials used in optical data storage media. A particular structural model, supported by polarization analysis, is proposed which is compatible with the experimental data as regards both the structure of a-GeTe and the crystallization transition. The remarkable difference between the Raman spectrum of the crystal and the glass can thus naturally be accounted for.
- Publication:
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Journal of Physics Condensed Matter
- Pub Date:
- January 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0953-8984/18/3/014
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0602167
- Bibcode:
- 2006JPCM...18..965A
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Materials Science;
- Condensed Matter - Disordered Systems and Neural Networks
- E-Print:
- Published in: J. Phys. Condens. Matter. 18, 965-979 (2006)