ABSTRACTFormation of buried insulating layers and redistribution of impurities during annealing are important processes in new semiconductor device technologies. We have studied pulsed ruby laser and furnace annealing of high dose (D>1017 N/cm2) 50 KeV nitrogen implanted silicon. Using He Back scattering and channeling, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and infrared transmission spectroscopy, we have compared liquid and solid phase regrowth, diffusion, impurity segregation and nitride formation. As has been previously reported, during furnace annealing at or above 1200C nitrogen redistributes and forms a polycrystalline silicon nitride (Si3N4 ) layer. [1–4] In contrast, pulsed laser annealing produces a buried amorphous silicon nitride layer filled with voids or bubbles below a layer of polycrystalline silicon.