Studies were made of the structural defects which arose in crystalline samples under ruby laser-pulse irradiation. A threshold laser irradiation energy density was defined which, when exceeded, produced defects in the near-surface layer. Dislocation generation was linked to thermomechanical stresses which were caused by large temperature gradients (up to 10K/μ) and non-uniform thermal expansion in the irradiated zone.

Modification of CdTe-HgTe defect substructure and carrier concentration by laser irradiation A.Zaginey, B.Kotlyarchuk, V.Savitsky, O.Storchun, V.Pysarevsky: Journal of Crystal Growth, 1998, 194[3-4], 317-20