Chalcogenides Metastability and Phase Change Phenomena [Hardcover]

A state-of-the-art description of metastability observed in chalcogenide alloys is presented with the accent on the underlying physics. A comparison is made between sulphur(selenium)-based chalcogenide glasses, where numerous photo-induced phenomena take place entirely within the amorphous phase, and tellurides where a reversible crystal-to-amorphous phase-change transformation is a major effect. Applications of metastability in devices?optical memories and nonvolatile electronic phase-change random-access memories among others are discussed, including the latest trends. Background material essential for understanding current research in the field is also provided.

This comprehensive report covers state of the art optical effects shown by chalcogenide materials. It includes key applications as well as comparison of sulphur(selenium)-based chalcogenides with tellurides displaying crystal-to-amorphous phase changes.

Essentials of amorphous semiconductors.- Photo-induced phenomena in S- and Se-based chalcogenides.-Metastability in Te-based chalcogenides.- Phase change in Te-based alloys for memory applications.- Phase-change optical data storage.- Super-resolution near-field sructure (Super-RENS) optical discs.- Ovonic unified memories.- What comes next.

Dr A.V. Kolobov obtained his PhD and D.Sc degrees in 1984 and 1992 respectively from Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia) were he started his sceintific activities in the laboratory headed by Prof. B.T. Kolomiets, father of amorphous semiconductors. At various periods of time he was visiting researcher at Cambridge University (UK) on several fellowships including Kapitza Fellowship Award of the Royal Society, Ecole superieure de physique et de chimie industrielles de la ville de Paris (France), directeur de recherche at CNRS (France), Guest Professor at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium). From 1994 he is senior scientist at NatiolS