Velocity effect of swift heavy ions in graphite studied by Raman spectroscopy

Highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) samples were irradiated with swift heavy ions (Ar, Kr, Bi, U) of fluences between 1011 and 1013 ions/cm2 in energy range MeV–GeV. The irradiated samples were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy with laser wavelength of 532.2 nm. It is shown that the ratio between the integrated intensities of the disorder-induced D and the original G Raman bands which denotes the degree of the damage induced by ion irradiation increases as a function of ion fluence as well as the electronic energy loss. This agrees with the previous reports. However, quantitative analysis of the peak intensity at a fixed fluence discloses that ion velocity is also a significant parameter in determination of damage. The conclusion is that the extent of discontinuity of ion track may change with ion velocity besides the electronic energy loss. Considering the radial distribution of the energy deposited on the matter being velocity dependent, the energy density which combines the influence of the electronic energy loss and ion velocity may be more suitable for explaining the effect induced by swift heavy ions.

► HOPG samples are irradiated with various heavy ions in energy range MeV–GeV.
► Raman spectroscopic study has been performed to detect the degree of the damage induced by ion irradiation.
► It shows that the so-called ion velocity effect also exists in the interaction of swift heavy ions with HOPG.