ABSTRACT
Diamond growth by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes requires activation of the gas phase adjacent to a substrate. The previous chapters of this book have discussed several methods of providing this activation needed for driving chemical reactions in the gas phase. Among these are hot-filament CVD (HFCVD), flame synthesis, and plasma CVD. All three methods rely upon thermal heating or near-equilibrium effects to induce reactions in the gas leading to diamond growth. Consequently, it is not possible to exercise selectivity from among the various competing chemical processes for diamond growth. Selectivity of desired chemical channels or lowering of growth temperatures, for instance, requires that attention be devoted to how the growth medium is energized and reacted. Lasers offer a unique means of activating the molecules in the growth medium. They are potentially capable of reducing growth temperatures as well as providing selectivity in a reactive process. In this chapter, the use of lasers in diamond synthesis is discussed.
