Patent ID: 7041227

Claim:
Process permitting defects or stresses in a structure to be revealed, comprising the following steps: securing by molecular bonding of a face ( 14 ) of a first element ( 1 ) containing crystalline material with a face ( 21 ) of a second element ( 2 ) containing crystalline material, so that said faces have offset crystalline lattices, the securing causing the formation of a lattice of crystalline defects ( 3 ) and/or stress fields in the crystalline zone next to the securing interface; reduction of the thickness of one (1) of the elements until at least a thin film ( 16 ) is obtained which adheres to the other element ( 2 ), along the securing interface ( 14 / 21 ) to form said structure, the thickness of the thin film ( 16 ) being such that its free face ( 15 ) does not reveal the crystalline defect lattice and/or the stress fields, the thickness of the thin film ( 16 ) also being such that the following step is possible; treatment of the thin film ( 16 ) resulting in that its free face reveals the crystalline defect lattice ( 18 ) and/or the stress fields.