Evolution of clusters in energetic heavy ion bombarded amorphous graphite-III: Energy spectra of charged clusters recoiling from Xe+ irradiations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new technique using Direct Recoil Spectrometry to study how heavy ion irradiation causes surface modifications and cluster formation in amorphous graphite, revealing clustering mechanisms and surface dynamics.

Contribution

It presents a novel method to analyze clustering mechanisms in amorphous graphite under heavy ion irradiation using energy spectra of charged recoiling clusters.

Findings

Heavy ion irradiation produces a wide range of carbon clusters.

Clusters are detected as charged recoils at large angles.

Surface features influence clustering mechanisms.

Abstract

We report on a novel technique of heavy ion induced surface modification and clustering mechanisms in amorphous graphite using Direct Recoil Spectrometry. The charged clusters emanating as Direct Recoils from 50-150 keV Xe+ irradiated graphite surface are detected in successive energy spectra at large recoil angles. Ion beams irradiated surface is shown to provide an environment of sputtered carbon atoms and clusters. The clustering occurs on the surface where the most stable ones accumulate. The spectra have identified clustering mechanisms operating in amorphous graphite under high fluence irradiations at grazing incidence that are related to the reconstructed surface features. Heavy ion irradiation induces the twin effects of producing a wide range of clusters and simultaneously ejecting these as DRs.