Ion Bombardment: Techniques, Materials and Applications

Abstract

The interaction between fast colliding ions and solid targets produces several effects many of which have been studied in recent years with a view to their astrophysical relevance. The penetrating ion loses energy both as a consequence of elastic collisions with target nuclei and of excitations and ionizations of target atoms and molecules. The bombarded sample can be deeply modified both because material can be removed from it (sputtering) and because of possible alteration of its bulk chemical composition. The study of some of these modifications is the object of experimental research in some laboratories through the world, among which in Catania (Italy). To observe the induced modifications one has to use techniques that permit to characterize directly the sample before, during and after the bombardment or to look to the products of the irradiation as e.g. to emitted atoms, ions, molecules, electrons or photons (from visible to X wavelengths). The purpose of this paper is to review some work made in our laboratory in the last 5 years (with a quotation to the results obtained in other laboratories), by describing irradiated materials, used techniques and astrophysical applications.