Temperature of thermal spikes induced by swift heavy ions

Few-nm sized gold, platinum and palladium nanoparticles were deposited on amorphous silicon nitride films. These films were irradiated with 420 MeV Au and 100 MeV Xe ions. Temperature distributions of thermal spikes produced by these ions were evaluated by observing desorption of the nanoparticles from the target surfaces upon ion impact. It was found that the temperature of the thermal spike produced by 420 MeV Au is higher than 100 MeV Xe. The observed temperature of the thermal spike at the entrance surface is slightly lower than that at the exit surface both for 420 MeV Au and 100 MeV Xe ions. These results can be well explained by the inelastic thermal spike model.