Fig. 3: Erasure mechanism of high-density dislocations.

a–d Simulated high-density dislocation distribution in the 100 × 100 nm square (up) and calculated the probability distribution of the dislocation spacing at different dislocation densities (below), corresponding to dislocation writing and erasing. The initial dislocation density is 3.6 × 10¹⁶m⁻², and 1t, 2t, 3t, 4t represent 1, 2, 3, and 4 times of the initial dislocation density, respectively. The dotted yellow region represents the critical distance range for dislocation annihilation. Inset: experimental results of dislocation erasing by multiplying the irradiation time. The irradiation time for dislocation writing is set to 1 s, and secondary irradiation time for dislocation erasing is 1 s, 2 s, and 3 s, respectively. Scale bars: 5 µm. e Optical microscopic images, HRTEM images, IFFT images showing dislocation-formed (left) and -erased (right) zones. Scale bars: 10 µm, 10 nm, 2 nm, respectively. f Birefringence signals of dislocation-formed (left) and -erased (right) zones. Scale bars: 10 µm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.