Second comment on "Dense and nanometric electronic excitations induced by swift heavy ions in an ionic CaF2 crystal: Evidence for two thresholds of damage creation"

TL;DR

This paper reinterprets previous experimental data on swift heavy ion tracks in CaF2, clarifying the nature of the velocity effect and proposing explanations within the thermal spike model.

Contribution

It offers a new interpretation of existing data on ion-induced damage in CaF2, resolving controversy over the velocity effect using the thermal spike model.

Findings

Reinterpretation of previous experimental data.

Explanation for the missing velocity effect.

Support for the thermal spike model in damage creation.

Abstract

Controversy over nature and existence of the velocity effect [G. Szenes, Phys. Rev. B 87, 056101 (2013)], [M. Toulemonde et al., Phys. Rev. B 87, 056102 (2013)] reignited after new experimental data on swift heavy ion tracks in CaF2 was reported recently [M. Toulemonde et al., Phys. Rev. B 85, 054112 (2012)]. Here we show that results of the analysis in ref. [G. Szenes, Phys. Rev. B 87, 056101 (2013)] should be interpreted differently within analytical thermal spike model. We also propose explanation for apparently missing velocity effect.