Lattice dynamics during electronic sputtering of solid Ne

Abstract

Electronic sputtering of solid neon has been studied with molecular dynamics. The cavity formation around an excited atom and particle migration in the surface region, as well as the sputtering process have been studied. A single atomic exciton has been observed to produce a desorption of up to five excited or ground state atoms. The ejection from the surface is induced by excitons formed in five outermost monolayers of the solid. Energy and angular distributions of sputtered excited and ground state atoms have been calculated and are compared with experimental data.