Molecular dynamics study of shock wave generation by cluster impact on solid targets

The generation of shock waves by energetic gas cluster impact on a solid surface was studied by use of two-dimensional (2D) molecular dynamics. The collisions of Ar-n (n similar to 200-350) clusters with the target of 40 000 atoms were modeled. The atomic scale shock waves arising from duster impact have been obtained by calculating the pressure, temperature and mass-velocity of the target atoms. The asymptotic time dependence of distances travelled by a shock wave front is well described by a power law R similar to t(alpha), with a constant alpha = 0.6 for cluster energies between 17 and 85 eV per atom.