\title{Modelling of a selforganization process leading to periodic arrays of nanometric amorphous precipitates by ion irradiation}
-\author{F. Zirkelbach, M. Häberlen, J.K.N. Lindner and B. Stritzkeri}
+\author{F. Zirkelbach, M. Häberlen, J.K.N. Lindner and B. Stritzker}
%\from{Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-86135 Augsburg, Germany}
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%\end{figure}
-As a result of the supersaturation of carbon atoms in silicon there is a nucleation of spherical $SiC_x$-precipitates. The almost $20\%$ lattice misfit of the diamond lattice of crystalline silicon ($c-Si$, $a=0.543 \, nm$) to the cubic polytype of $SiC$ ($3C-SiC$, $a=0.436 \, nm$) causes a large interfacial energy, which could be reduced if one of the participants exists in the amorphous phase. It has been shown \cite{1} that $SiC$ turns into the amorphous phase. In fact, amorphous silicon ($a-Si$) would recrystallize under the granted conditions due to ion beam induced recrystallization. Stoichiometric $SiC$ has a smaller atomic density than $c-Si$. The same is assumed for substoichiometric $a-SiC_x$. Hence the amorphous $SiC_x$ is anxious to expand, and as a result compressive stress is applied on the $Si$ host lattice. As the process occurs near the targets surface, the stress is relaxing in vertical direction and there is just lateral stress remaining. Thus volumes between amorphous inclusions will more likely turn into amorphous phase, as the stress aggravates the reassembly of the atoms on their lattice site, while amorphous volumes located in a crystalline neighbourhood will recrystallize in all probability. In addition carbon diffuses to the amorphous volumes in order to reduce the supersaturation of carbon in the crystalline volumes. As a consequence the amorphous volumes hold plenty of carbon.
+As a result of the supersaturation of carbon atoms in silicon there is a nucleation of spherical $SiC_x$-precipitates. The almost $20\%$ lattice misfit of the diamond lattice of crystalline silicon ($c-Si$, $a=0.543 \, nm$) to the cubic polytype of $SiC$ ($3C-SiC$, $a=0.436 \, nm$) causes a large interfacial energy, which could be reduced if one of the participants exists in the amorphous phase. It has been shown \cite{1} that $SiC$ turns into the amorphous phase. In fact, amorphous silicon ($a-Si$) would recrystallize under the granted conditions due to ion beam induced recrystallization. Stoichiometric $SiC$ has a smaller atomic density than $c-Si$. The same is assumed for substoichiometric $a-SiC_x$. Hence the amorphous $SiC_x$ tends to expand, and as a result compressive stress is applied on the $Si$ host lattice. As the process occurs near the targets surface, the stress is relaxing in vertical direction and there is just lateral stress remaining. Thus volumes between amorphous inclusions will more likely turn into amorphous phase, as the stress hampers the reassembly of the atoms on their lattice site, while amorphous volumes located in a crystalline neighbourhood will recrystallize in all probability. In addition carbon diffuses to the amorphous volumes in order to reduce the supersaturation of carbon in the crystalline volumes. As a consequence the amorphous volumes hold plenty of carbon.
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\section{Simulation}
-Before discussing the implementation some assumptions and approximations have to be done. Figure \ref{2} shows the stopping powers and carbon concentration profile calculated by TRIM. The depth region we are interested in is between $0-300 \, nm$, the region between the surface of the target and the beginning of the continuous amorphous $SiC_x$ layer (from now on called simulation window), where the nuclear stopping power and the implantation profile can be approximated by a linear function of depth. Furthermore the probability of amorphization is assumed to be proportional to the nuclear stopping power. A local probability of amorphization somewhere in the target is composed of three parts, the ballistic, carbon-induced and stress-induced amorphization. The ballistic amorphization is proportional to the nuclear stopping power, as mentioned before. The carbon-induced amorphization is a linear function of the local carbon concentration. The stress-induced amorphization is proportional to the compressive stress apllied by the amorphous neighbours. Thus the probability of a crystalline volume getting amorphous can be calculated as follows,
+Before discussing the implementation some assumptions and approximations have to be made. Figure \ref{2} shows the stopping powers and carbon concentration profile calculated by TRIM. The depth region we are interested in is between $0-300 \, nm$, the region between the surface of the target and the beginning of the continuous amorphous $SiC_x$ layer (from now on called simulation window), where the nuclear stopping power and the implantation profile can be approximated by a linear function of depth. Furthermore the probability of amorphization is assumed to be proportional to the nuclear stopping power. A local probability of amorphization somewhere in the target is composed of three parts, the ballistic, carbon-induced and stress-induced amorphization. The ballistic amorphization is proportional to the nuclear stopping power, as mentioned before. The carbon-induced amorphization is a linear function of the local carbon concentration. The stress-induced amorphization is proportional to the compressive stress applied by the amorphous neighbours. Thus the probability of a crystalline volume getting amorphous can be calculated as follows,
\[
p_{c \rightarrow a} = b_{ap} + a_{cp} \times c^{local}_{carbon} + \sum_{amorphous \, neighbours} \frac{a_{ap} \times c_{carbon}}{distance^2}
\]
with $b_{ap}$, $a_{cp}$ and $a_{ap}$ being parameters of the simulation to weight the three different ways of amorphization. The probability of an amorphous volume turning crystalline should behave contrary to $p_{c \rightarrow a}$ and thus is assumed to $p_{a \rightarrow c} = 1 - p_{c \rightarrow a}$.
-Figure \ref{3} shows the target devided into $64 \times 64 \times 100$ volumes with a side length of $3 \, nm$. Each of it has a state (crystalline/amorphous) and keeps the local carbon concentration. The simulation algorithm consists of three parts, the amorphization/recrystallization process, the carbon-implanting process and finaly the diffusion process.
+Figure \ref{3} shows the target devided into $64 \times 64 \times 100$ volumes with a side length of $3 \, nm$. Each of it has a state (crystalline/amorphous) and keeps the local carbon concentration. The simulation algorithm consists of three parts, the amorphization/recrystallization process, the carbon-implanting process and finally the diffusion process.
-In the first part random coordinates according to the nuclear stopping power are computed to specify the volume which is hit by an implanted carbon ion. After calculating the local probability of amorphization, another random number decides about the state of the volume. This step is looped for the average hit per ion in the simulation window, counted by TRIM collision data.
+For the amorphization/recrystallization process, random coordinates are computed to specify the volume which is hit by an implanted carbon ion. The two random numbers corresponding to the $x$ and $y$ coordinates are generated with a uniform probability distribution, $p(x)dx=dx \textrm{, } p(y)dy=dy$. The random number corresponding to the $z$ coordinate is distributed according to the linear approximated nuclear stopping power, $p(z)dz=(a_{el} \times z+b_{el})dz$, where $a_{el}$ and $b_{el}$ are simulation parameters describing the nuclear energy loss. After calculating the local probability of amorphization of that volume $p_{c \rightarrow a}$, another random number decides, depending on the current state, whether the volume gets amorphous or recrystallized. This step is looped for the average hit per ion in the simulation window, counted by TRIM collision data.
-After that random coordinates according to the implantation profile are obtained to acquire the volume where the carbon ion gets stock and the local carbon concentration increases.
+In an analogous manner random coordinates (expect the $z$ coordinate being distributed according the linear approximated implantation profile) are obtained to acquire the volume where the carbon ion gets stock and the local carbon concentration increases.
-Finally a standard diffusion algorithm is started, so the supersaturation of carbon in the crystalline volumes can be reduced. This process adds a few simulation paramters, the diffusion velocity, the diffusion rate and a switch whether to do diffusion in $z$-direction or not.
+Finally a standard diffusion algorithm is started, so the supersaturation of carbon in the crystalline volumes can be reduced. This process adds a few simulation parameters, the diffusion velocity, the diffusion rate and a switch whether to do diffusion in $z$-direction or not.
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