Erosion of Frozen Gases by MeV Ion Bombardment (Part A)

Abstract

Recent measurements of the sputtering of frozen gases by MeV ions gave yields several orders of magnitude greater than predicted by collision cascade theory. Only a "thermal spike" model, invoking a coupling of electronic excitation to nuclear motion, agrees qualitatively with experimental results. Yields of 300 keV to 2 MeV ions ranging in mass from 4 a.m.u. to 40 a.m.u. were investigated for ice, Kr and Xe films in the temperature range of 15°K to 120°K.