HIGH ELECTRONIC EXCITATIONS AND DAMAGE PRODUCTION IN GEV-ION-IRRADIATED METALS

The low-temperature damage induced by high-energy heavy ions in metallic targets has been followed by in-situ electrical-resistivity measurements. In Cu3Au alloys, the observed damage production can be accounted for by elastic-collision processes, whereas in Ni3Fe and iron, inelastic collisions must be put forward above an electronic stopping power threshold. In the latter case, collective effects in the wake of the incident ion could explain both (1) the increased damage efficiency and (2) the inhomogeneous damage distribution that leads to a very small saturation resistivity increase. © 1990.