Surface modifications in single crystal surfaces of YBa2Cu3O7 − δ upon high energy ion irradiation

✍ Scribed by Archana Lakhani; V. Ganesan; Suja Elizabeth; H.L. Bhat; R. Singh; D. Kanjilal

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 287 KB
• Volume: 244
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0168-583X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2005.11.132

✦ Synopsis

Atomic force microscopy investigations on swift heavy ion (200 MeV Au) irradiated surfaces of a high T c single crystal YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 À d are presented. Results obtained revealed an ion-induced erosion/sputtering clearly confirming our earlier observation on grain boundary dominated thin films. Apart from sputtering, notable effects were seen with many defect structures like dikes/hillocks surrounded by craters, dikes, holes, pearl like structures and ripple formation of sub-micron undulations, all in one crystal. Results are discussed in the light of co-operative phenomena of material re-distribution mechanism related to mass transfer and crater formations.