Patent ID: 7898280
Filing Date: 2011-03-01
Classification: G01R,H01L,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for characterizing electronic properties with specific dimensional classes of defects in a semiconductor sample, the method comprising: illuminating the surface of the semiconductor sample with a first pulse of light having a predetermined duration and a photon energy higher than an energy gap of the semiconductor; measuring a photoconductance decay in the semiconductor sample after the cessation of the first pulse of light; identifying in the photoconductance decay a first component that is substantially exponential and a second component that is substantially logarithmic; and analyzing the time dependence of the first and second components of the photoconductance decay to identify electronic properties associated with specific dimensional classes of defects, wherein the first component of the photoconductance decay is substantially associated with electronic properties of point imperfections in the semiconductor sample and the second component of the photoconductance decay is substantially associated with electronic properties of extended imperfections in the semiconductor sample.