Polarization-dependent, laser-induced anisotropic photocrystallization of some amorphous chalcogenide films

We report the observation of the influence of light polarization on the photocrystallization process and on the properties of crystallized films. In addition with linearly polarized He-Ne laser light results in the preparation of polycrystalline films with strong optical anisotropy (dichroism), the sign of which is determined by the direction of the electrical vector of light. The results obtained allow one to select hom previously proposed mechanisms of photocrystallization. Large values of photoinduced dichroism in the films studied can be interesting for different applications of photoinduced anisotropy. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.