Armon E, Bekkerman A, Cohen Y, Bernstein J, Tsipinyuk B, Kolodney E. Direct experimental observation of a new mechanism for sputtering of solids by a large polyatomic projectile: velocity-correlated cluster emission.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014;
113:027604. [PMID:
25062236 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.113.027604]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We have measured kinetic energy distributions of Ta(n)C(n)(+) (n=1-10) and Ag(n)(+) (n=1-9) cluster ions sputtered off Ta and Ag targets, following impact of C(60)(-) at 14 keV kinetic energy. A gradual increase of the most probable kinetic energies with increased size of the emitted cluster was observed (nearly the same velocity for all n values). This behavior is in sharp contrast to that reported for cluster emission induced by the impact of a monoatomic projectile. Our observation is in good agreement with a mechanism based on the new concept of a superhot moving precursor as the source of the emitted clusters.
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