The initial stage of surface modification of magnesium alloys by high intensity pulse ions beam

• The behavior of Mg17Al12 phase in Mg alloy under the influence of ablation plasma was simulated by MD.
• The effects of Mg17Al12 precipitation on the surface roughness were studied.
• The relationship between the depth and mean standard err of the precipitation atoms was found.

The initial stage of high intensity pulsed ion beam irradiated magnesium alloys was studied by MD simulation. Specimens containing Mg17Al12 precipitation were modeled to investigate the evolution of magnesium alloys during several picoseconds after a high-energy ion impacting. It was found that the Mg17Al12 precipitation has little effects on the kinetic energy evolution in the heat zone, but considerable effects on strength of kinetic energy peak moving to the deep matrix and on the surface morphology of the magnesium alloy at thermal equilibrium state. The thickness of the heat zone is independent on the temperature of surface region.