Synergy of elastic and inelastic energy loss on ion track formation in SrTiO₃.

ABSTRACT: While the interaction of energetic ions with solids is well known to result in inelastic energy loss to electrons and elastic energy loss to atomic nuclei in the solid, the coupled effects of these energy losses on defect production, nanostructure evolution and phase transformations in ionic and covalently bonded materials are complex and not well understood due to dependencies on electron-electron scattering processes, electron-phonon coupling, localized electronic excitations, diffusivity of charged defects, and solid-state radiolysis. Here we show that a colossal synergy occurs between inelastic energy loss and pre-existing atomic defects created by elastic energy loss in single crystal strontium titanate (SrTiO₃), resulting in the formation of nanometer-sized amorphous tracks, but only

SUBMITTER: Weber WJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4289895 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature