The overlap of interest between hyperfine interaction measurements and ion implantation

Abstract

Ion implantation involves the theory and experimental techniques of accelerating ion beams, the passage of accelerated ions in solids, their slowing down and stopping, and their final positions in the lattice. Interest is centred on the modifications the implanted ions produce in lattice properties and the variation of these modifications with parameters such as the total number and incident energy of the incident ions and the heat treatment of the lattice. Hyperfine interaction measurements involve the product of a nuclear electro-magnetic moment, electric monopole (charge), magnetic dipole, electric quadrupole, etc., with the appropriate property of the environment of the nucleus, namely the electron charge density, the magnetic field, or the electric field gradient. In this introductory article the areas in which the fields of current interest of these two branches of physics overlap are briefly outlined. We first consider the requirements and capabilities of hyperfine interaction measurements, concentrating on the magnetic dipole case, and show how these may be fulfilled and extended with the aid of ion implantation techniques. We then consider how hyperfine interaction studies could be applied to the problems facing those who use ion implantation for other purposes.