Analysis of tracks induced by cluster ions in CaF2

Recent experimental data on latent tracks induced in CaF2 by cluster ions a re analyzed applying a thermal spike model. The track evolution can be desc ribed by the same equations in radiolysis sensitive CaF2 and in the radioly sis resistant Y3Fe5O12 , using similar parameter values. The efficiency of the localized energy deposition g = 0.18 for CaF2, which is equal within ex perimental error to that in Y3Fe5O12 at high ion velocities. This indicates that the damage cross section is not sensitive to the ion velocity in CaF2 . The similarities observed in the track evolution in insulating crystals, polymers, semiconductors, and high-T-c superconductors are explained by the Gaussian spatial distribution of the excitation energy with close values o f the distribution parameters.