Fast nanothermometry based on direct electron detection of electron backscattering diffraction patterns

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Gnabasik, Ryan, Nughays, Razan O., Overholser, Ashlynn, Kumar, Vijay, Adajian, Shantal, della Ventura, Nicolò Maria, Gianola, Daniel S., Liao, Bolin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Gnabasik, Ryan
Nughays, Razan O.
Overholser, Ashlynn
Kumar, Vijay
Adajian, Shantal
della Ventura, Nicolò Maria
Gianola, Daniel S.
Liao, Bolin
author_facet Gnabasik, Ryan
Nughays, Razan O.
Overholser, Ashlynn
Kumar, Vijay
Adajian, Shantal
della Ventura, Nicolò Maria
Gianola, Daniel S.
Liao, Bolin
contents Accurate temperature measurement at the nanoscale is crucial for thermal management in next-generation microelectronic devices. Existing optical and scanning-probe thermometry techniques face limitations in spatial resolution, accuracy, or invasiveness. In this work, we demonstrate a fast and non-contact nanothermometry method based on temperature-induced changes in electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) patterns captured by a high-performance direct electron detector within a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using dynamical electron simulations, we establish the theoretical temperature sensitivity limits for several semiconductors (Si, Ge, GaAs, and GaN), showing that thermal diffuse scattering (TDS) leads to a measurable smearing of Kikuchi bands in the EBSD patterns. We develop a Fourier analysis method that captures these subtle changes across the full diffraction pattern, achieving a simulated temperature sensitivity of approximately 0.15\% per K. Experimental results on silicon confirm a sensitivity of 0.14\% per K and achieve a 13-K temperature uncertainty with a 10-second acquisition time, and enable spatial temperature mapping under thermal gradients. Our approach offers a pathway toward practical and high-resolution thermal mapping directly in SEMs, expanding the toolbox for device-level thermal diagnostics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_05467
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Fast nanothermometry based on direct electron detection of electron backscattering diffraction patterns
Gnabasik, Ryan
Nughays, Razan O.
Overholser, Ashlynn
Kumar, Vijay
Adajian, Shantal
della Ventura, Nicolò Maria
Gianola, Daniel S.
Liao, Bolin
Materials Science
Instrumentation and Detectors
Accurate temperature measurement at the nanoscale is crucial for thermal management in next-generation microelectronic devices. Existing optical and scanning-probe thermometry techniques face limitations in spatial resolution, accuracy, or invasiveness. In this work, we demonstrate a fast and non-contact nanothermometry method based on temperature-induced changes in electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) patterns captured by a high-performance direct electron detector within a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using dynamical electron simulations, we establish the theoretical temperature sensitivity limits for several semiconductors (Si, Ge, GaAs, and GaN), showing that thermal diffuse scattering (TDS) leads to a measurable smearing of Kikuchi bands in the EBSD patterns. We develop a Fourier analysis method that captures these subtle changes across the full diffraction pattern, achieving a simulated temperature sensitivity of approximately 0.15\% per K. Experimental results on silicon confirm a sensitivity of 0.14\% per K and achieve a 13-K temperature uncertainty with a 10-second acquisition time, and enable spatial temperature mapping under thermal gradients. Our approach offers a pathway toward practical and high-resolution thermal mapping directly in SEMs, expanding the toolbox for device-level thermal diagnostics.
title Fast nanothermometry based on direct electron detection of electron backscattering diffraction patterns
topic Materials Science
Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.05467