Rs. Averback et M. Ghaly, MD STUDIES OF THE INTERACTIONS OF LOW-ENERGY PARTICLES AND CLUSTERS WITH SURFACES, Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms, 90(1-4), 1994, pp. 191-201
The interaction of low-energy particles and clusters with metal surfac
es has been investigated using molecular dynamics computer simulations
. For the particle interactions, a new mechanism for producing damage
at surfaces was revealed in simulations of 10 and 20 keV Au bombardmen
t of Au surfaces. Macroscopic modeling of this phenomenon illustrates
the important parameters. For the cluster interactions, many different
clusters and substrates were employed: the energies were varied from
less than one eV (soft landings) to over 3 keV; the size of the cluste
rs was varied from 87 to 1000, the angle of incidence was varied from
near glancing to near normal, and both solid and liquid clusters were
examined. Embedded atom method potentials were employed to represent t
he different metals and alloys. A broad range of behavior was observed
in the simulations: splatting of the cluster over the surface, the fo
rmation of globs, the penetration of the clusters deep into the substr
ate. General rules are suggested for predicting which type of behavior
prevails.