Tracks and voids in amorphous Ge induced by swift heavy-ion irradiation.
Phys Rev Lett
; 110(24): 245502, 2013 Jun 14.
Article
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| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25165936
ABSTRACT
Ion tracks formed in amorphous Ge by swift heavy-ion irradiation have been identified with experiment and modeling to yield unambiguous evidence of tracks in an amorphous semiconductor. Their underdense core and overdense shell result from quenched-in radially outward material flow. Following a solid-to-liquid phase transformation, the volume contraction necessary to accommodate the high-density molten phase produces voids, potentially the precursors to porosity, along the ion direction. Their bow-tie shape, reproduced by simulation, results from radially inward resolidification.