System and methods for
processing an
amorphous silicon thin film sample into a single or
polycrystalline silicon thin film are disclosed. The
system includes an
excimer laser for generating a plurality of
excimer laser pulses of a predetermined
fluence, an
energy density modulator for controllably modulating
fluence of the
excimer laser pulses, a beam homoginizer for homoginizing modulated laser pulses in a predetermined plane, a
mask for masking portions of the homoginized modulated laser pulses into patterned beamlets, a sample stage for receivingthe patterned beamlets to effect melting of portions of any
amorphous silicon thin film sample placed thereon corresponding to the beamlets, translating means for controllably translating a relative position of the sample stage with respect to a position of the
mask and a computer for controlling the controllable
fluence modulation of the
excimer laser pulses and the controllable relative positions of the sample stage and
mask, and for coordinating excimer pulse generation and fluence modulation with the relative positions of the sample stage and mask, to thereby process
amorphous silicon thin film sample into a single or
polycrystalline silicon thin film by sequential translation of the sample stage relative to the mask and
irradiation of the sample by patterned beamlets of varying fluence at corresponding sequential locations thereon.