Randomisation of crystal structure within energetic collision cascades revealed by the sputtering of Au single crystals during ion bombardment

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Abstract
The ratio of random to preferential atomic ejection which occurs from the surface of a gold single crystal during ion bombardment has been found to be very sensitive to the ion mass. For instance, in the case of 50 keV Ne+ ion bombardment preferential ejection dominates, whereas in the case of 50 keV Au+ ion bombardment preferential ejection is only a small fraction of the total. These results are interpreted in terms of a dynamic randomisation of the crystal lattice which occurs during the creation of energetic atomic collision cascades. The disorder occurs so rapidly that a substantial fraction of atoms sputtered from the surface are ejected from an essentially random structure. It is thought that such gross disorder is only a transient phenomenon, and leaves no significant permanent effects, except perhaps for a few clustered defects.