Spin Diagnostics of Local Polytypic Composition of Silicon Carbide with Submicron Spatial Resolution

Abstract

A new diagnostic method for evaluation of the local polytypic composition of silicon carbide at room temperature is proposed using known and tabulated zero-field splitting values for spin color centers with S = 3/2 whose frequency parameters are in the megahertz range and depend on the specific polytype. The zero-field splitting values are recorded from the change in the photoluminescence in the near infrared, either under the optically detected magnetic resonance conditions or under the level anticrossing conditions of the spin centers. The proposed method can be used to identify silicon carbide known as carborundum in nature by recording optically induced radio frequency emission of spin color centers, including outer space.