Thermal spike effect in sputtering of porous germanium to form surface pattern by high energy heavy ions irradiation

Journal Article · Mon May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4950710· OSTI ID:22591729

Hooda, Sonu; Khan, S. A.; Kanjilal, D.; Kabiraj, D. ^[1]; Satpati, B. ^[2]

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1. Inter-University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067 (India)
2. Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata 700064 (India)

Germanium exhibits a remarkable effect when subjected to high energy heavy ions irradiation. A synergic effect of high electronic energy loss (S{sub e} = 16.4 keV nm{sup −1}) and nuclear energy loss (S{sub n} = 0.1 keV nm{sup −1}) of 100 MeV Ag ions irradiation in Ge is presented. The results show that crystalline Ge is insensitive to the ionizing part of energy loss whereas thermal spike generated in the damaged Ge leads to the formation of porous structure. Further, an unusual high sputtering of the porous structure opens up the sub-surface voids to show the surface pattern. We explore the role of electron and phonon confinement to explain this effect.

• OSTI ID: 22591729
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 108, Issue 20; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CONFINEMENT
DAMAGE
ENERGY LOSSES
GERMANIUM
HEAVY IONS
IRRADIATION
KEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 100-1000
NUCLEAR ENERGY
PHONONS
POROUS MATERIALS
SILVER IONS
SPUTTERING
SURFACES
THERMAL SPIKES
VOIDS