Characteristics of kinetic energy transfer in collisions between a fragile nano-particle and a rigid particle on a surface

• MD was used to simulate the kinetic energy transfer between bullet and target.
• Transfer fraction of kinetic energy varied depending on the temperature of bullet.
• Binding energy of the bullet determines energy transfer and post-collision behavior.
• Kinetic energy transferred was linearly proportional to the binding energy of bullet.

The characteristics of kinetic energy transfer during a collision between a rigid target particle on a surface and a fragile bullet particle (BP) moving at a high velocity were analyzed by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation. Ar, N2, and CO2 BPs were considered; their size, temperature and velocity were varied over a wide range. The fraction (FK) of kinetic energy transferred from the BP to the target particle was almost independent of BP size or velocity, but was sensitively dependent on BP type and temperature. The rigidity or the average potential energy of the BP was a dominant factor determining the post-collision behavior of the target particle and FK. FK was almost linearly proportional to the average potential energy per molecule of the BP.

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