Excitation of standing electron waves in fast-ion tracks

Abstract

The specific case of slow-electron diffraction in fast-ion tracks is considered. The excitation condition for standing waves of δ electrons is a strong screening of the Coulomb interaction, for which most of the δ electrons are knocked out in radial directions relative to the track axis. In that case, an appreciable number of δ electrons with a wavelength of the order of the interatomic distance experience multiple backscatterings between the atomic chains located near the track axis. The lifetime of standing electron waves is estimated from diffractometric measurements of the decrease in atomic density on the track axis. The mobility of crystal atoms, their displacements, and the expenditure of energy on deformation are also estimated.