Ab initio molecular dynamics study of ion-surface interactions

Ion-surface collisions have been investigated theoretically using ab initio molecular dynamics within density functional theory. The temporal evolution of the position of the bombarding ion, as well as its nearest neighbors, was studied for initial kinetic energies of 0 and 3.5 eV (0 and 5 km/s, respectively). Also investigated was the ion-surface interaction prior to collision and the following energy transfer, as indicated by changes in ion velocity. At 3.5 eV collision energy, the calculation results suggest the formation of local structural disorder within the simulation time frame studied. These results are of fundamental importance for an increased understanding of the ion-surface interaction during a collision event, with resulting changes in atomic level structure.