A strain characterization method with nanoscale spatial resolution called cathodoluminescence is
explained. The method involves the use of a small electron probe with high energy. The energy loss by the
primary electrons results in the emission of light which are collected by reflective optics and detected by a
spectrometer. By measuring the cathodoluminescence spectrum during scanning, a spatial map of the stress
distribution can be deduced. This is because stress affects the peak of the emission spectrum from the
sample via the piezospectroscopic effect. By monitoring the peak shift, the strain can be deduced from the
piezospectroscopic coefficients. This method is especially useful for ceramic materials such as oxides and
glasses for which the Raman effect is extremely weak. However, stress distribution in epitaxial III-nitride
semiconductors had also been studied.
Keywords: Cathodoluminescence, Scanning electron microscope, Piezospectroscopic effect, III-nitride,
optical glasses.
