Abstract
The sputtering yield of 45 keV V+ ions on copper is found to decrease with increasing dose even for very large doses, whilst the yield of 45 keV Bi+ ions on copper increases with increasing dose until approximately ten times the projected range of the Bi+ ions has been sputtered away. The fate of the incoming V+ and Bi+ ions was investigated. A radiotracer technique showed that vanadium accumulated on the target surface, whilst bismuth diffused into the target, as was seen by means of Rutherford-scattering of light ions.