The invention provides a method of increasing the extent of a desired
biaxial orientation of a previously formed non-single-crystal structure by
contacting said structure with an oblique particle beam thereby forming in
the structure a nucleating surface having increased desired biaxial
orientation. The method can further include a step of epitaxially growing
the crystalline formation using the nucleating surface to promote the
epitaxial growth. The invention also provides a crystalline structure
containing a nucleating surface formed by contacting a previously formed
non-single-crystal structure with an oblique particle beam, from 0 to 10
adjacent orientation-transmitting layers, and a crystalline active layer.
In this structure, the active layer is oriented in registry with the
nucleating surface.
