Degradation of discontinuous gold films under MeV heavy-ion bombardment

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.324487· OSTI ID:6627961

Andersen, H H; Knudsen, H; Petersen, P M

Thin discontinuous gold films evaporated onto 150--230-A-thick C substrates were irradiated with perpendicularly impinging MeV N, O, F, Cl, and Br ions up to fluences of 5 x 10/sup 15/ ions/cm/sup 2/ and fluxes up to 8 x 10/sup 11/ ions/cm/sup 2/ sec. Surprisingly rapid degradation of the gold films was found; in some cases, up to 2000 gold atoms per impinging ion were removed, as measured by Rutherford scattering. The degradation was also investigated by transmission-electron microscopy. The angular distribution of the ejected gold atoms was indicated by a simple collector experiment and found incompatible with chunk emission. The degradation is concluded to be caused by the same ionization mechanism as that occurring when fission fragments form tracks in discontinuous metal films. During irradiation, the remaining part of the film is found to be stabilized against further degradation by ionization-induced cracking of hydrocarbons.

• Research Organization: Institute of Physics, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
• OSTI ID: 6627961
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 49:11; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360106* -- Metals & Alloys-- Radiation Effects
ANGULAR DISTRIBUTION
BEAMS
BROMINE IONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHLORINE IONS
DESORPTION
DISTRIBUTION
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
FILMS
FLUORINE IONS
GOLD
ION BEAMS
IONIZATION
IONS
IRRADIATION
METALS
MEV RANGE
MICROSCOPY
NITROGEN IONS
OXYGEN IONS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RUTHERFORD SCATTERING
SCATTERING
SPUTTERING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS