Ramification of micropipes in SiC crystals

Abstract

The ramification of micropipes is observed using scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and synchrotron x-ray radiography. The conditions for the ramification of dislocated micropipes are determined theoretically within a model when the angles between dislocation lines are small. It is shown that the ramification of micropipes into two smaller ones is possible only for micropipes with radii that exceed the equilibrium micropipe radius and is associated with a decrease in the total micropipe surface area. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.