Surface Perturbation by Energetic Particle Beams

Abstract

AbstractThe state of the surface after energetic keV particle bombardment is investigated using molecular dynamics. The model utilizes a Ag{110} microcrystallite which is statically bombarded by Ar particles at normal incidence. After being bombarded at incident energy of 1 keV, the relocation probability is <0.3 for all the surface atoms initially residing within four lattice spacings from the target. The probability decreases exponentially as the initial distance of the substrate atom from the target is increased. The most probable distances of displacement from the lattice site also vary with the initial atomic distance from the target atom. The probable displacement of the surface atom, except the target atom, is less than one twentieth of the surface lattice spacing. An analytical formulae for the initial-distance dependence of the relocation probability is also proposed. The formula has three adjustable parameters which are determined by the least-squares method.