This volume reviews recent developments in the materials science of silicon. The topics discussed range from the fundamental characterization of the physical properties to the assessment of materials for device applications, and include: crystal growth; process-induced defects; topography; hydrogenation of silicon; impurities; and complexes and interactions between impurities.In view of its key position within the conference scope, several papers examine process induced defects: defects due to ion implantation, silicidation and dry etching, with emphasis being placed on the device aspects. Special attention is also paid to recent developments in characterization techniques on epitaxially grown silicon, and silicon-on-insulators.

This was the tenth symposium of the International Symposium on Silcon Material Science and Technology, going back to 1969. This issue provides a unique historical record of the program and will aid in the understanding of silicon materials over the last 35 years.

Silicon dioxide plays a central role in most contemporary electronic and photonic technologies, from fiber optics for communications and medical applications to metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. Many of these applications directly involve point defects, which can either be introduced during the manufacturing process or by exposure to ionizing radiation. They can also be deliberately created to exploit new technologies. This book provides a general description of the influence that point defects have on the global properties of the bulk material and their spectroscopic characterization through ESR and optical spectroscopy.

This book emphasizes the importance of the fascinating atomistic insights into the defects and the impurities as well as the dynamic behaviors in silicon materials, which have become more directly accessible over the past 20 years. Such progress has been made possible by newly developed experimental methods, first principle theories, and computer simulation techniques. The book is aimed at young researchers, scientists, and technicians in related industries. The main purposes are to provide readers with 1) the basic physics behind defects in silicon materials, 2) the atomistic modeling as well as the characterization techniques related to defects and impurities in silicon materials, and 3) an overview of the wide range of the research fields involved.