Amorphization and Crystallization mechanisms in GeSbTe-based Phase Change Optical Disks

Future development of erasable phase-change recording requires an understanding of amorphization and crystallization mechanisms. Thermodynamical models allow to describe the phase transformation occurring under a given heat treatment. However, a key point for a suitable application of thermodynamical models to phase change recording media is to take into account temperature variations generated during laser heating. In this paper, the temperature profiles are evaluated on the basis of optical and thermal simulations and re-introduced in the thermodynamical models. The experimental study of laser induced phase transformations including both optical measurements and microstructure analysis allows to discuss the validity of the models.