Swift heavy ion irradiation of crystalline insulators and metals

Abstract

This chapter presents a review of the structural modifications induced by electronic excitation in crystalline insulators and metals irradiated with swift heavy ions. After some generalities about electronic energy loss in insulators and the presentation of the main experimental techniques used to observe electronic energy loss effects, results on the formation of ion tracks are presented in metals and metallic alloys and in various classes of insulating materials. Structural transformations occurring when tracks overlap at high ion fluences are then discussed in the framework of existing theoretical descriptions.