LASER-DRIVEN ION-SOURCE FOR REDUCED-COST IMPLANTATION OF METAL-IONS FOR STRONG REDUCTION OF DRY FRICTION AND INCREASED DURABILITY

Extensive studies of ion implantation into near surface areas of mater ials have demonstrated astonishing changes of such properties as surfa ce tension, friction, and durability. The cost of implanted ions is cu rrently rather high due to the limited ion current density of the usua l ion sources, especially if ions from sources other than gaseous plas ma must be used. The advent of the laser ion source, which offers many orders of magnitude higher current densities than classical ion sourc es, may change the scenario for a wide range of applications, making i on implantation as crucial a manufacturing technology in the future fo r other industries as it is today for microelectronics.