| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1687853 | Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms | 2007 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
We investigate the formation of nano-sized hillocks on the (1Â 1Â 1) surface of CaF2 single crystals by impact of slow highly charged ions. Atomic force microscopy reveals a surprisingly sharp and well-defined threshold of potential energy carried into the collision of about 14Â keV for hillock formation. Estimates of the energy density deposited suggest that the threshold is linked to a solid-liquid phase transition (“melting”) on the nanoscale. With increasing potential energy, both the basal diameter and the height of the hillocks increase. The present results reveal a remarkable similarity between the present predominantly potential energy driven process and track formation by the thermal spike of swift (â¼GeV) heavy ions.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Materials Science
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Authors
A.S. El-Said, W. Meissl, M.C. Simon, J.R. Crespo López-Urrutia, C. Lemell, J. Burgdörfer, I.C. Gebeshuber, HP. Winter, J. Ullrich, C. Trautmann, M. Toulemonde, F. Aumayr,