Effect of 305-MeV krypton ions on the surface of highly oriented pyrolyticgraphite

The surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) irradiated by 305- MeV krypton ions was studied in a scanning tunneling microscope. It was fou nd that inelastic energy losses of the krypton ions do not significantly af fect the sputtering of carbon from the surface of crystalline HOPG grains. Similarly to the case of metals, preferential sputtering takes place in the grain boundaries. The inhomogeneous sputtering of polycrystalline conducto rs has to be taken into account in interpreting experimental data on the sp uttering of such targets by high-energy heavy ions in the range of inelasti c energy losses. The results can be also implemented in the technology of i on implantation into deep layers of solids. (C) 2000 MAIK "Nauka/Interperio dica".