Time-Resolved Investigation of Nanosecond Crystal Growth in Rapid-Phase-Change Materials: Correlation with the Recording Speed of Digital Versatile Disc Media

The crystallization process in digital versatile disc (DVD) media was investigated using a time-resolved X-ray diffraction apparatus coupled with in situ photoreflectivity measurement. The time profiles of crystallization were found to be consistent with the changes in photoreflectivity. The phase changes were characterized by the start and end time; 90±1 and 273±1 ns for Ge2Sb2Te5, and 85±1 and 206±1 ns for Ag3.5In3.8Sb75.0Te17.7, respectively. The faster crystallization time in Ag3.5In3.8Sb75.0Te17.7 is ascribed to its characteristic crystallization process; its X-ray diffraction profile shows a significant sharpening during the crystallization process, whereas the peak width of Ge2Sb2Te5 remained unchanged. The present findings suggest that crystal growth control is another key for designing faster phase-change materials.