EFFECTS OF SURFACE IMPURITIES AND DIFFUSION ON ION BOMBARDMENT-INDUCED TOPOGRAPHY FORMATION.

Abstract

A sputter cone is a general name given to a class of surface topographies formed on surfaces undergoing energetic ion bombardment. The scope of the present work will deal primarily with the formation of erosional sputter cones formed due to the presence of surface impurities. The work by necessity includes aspects of each of the other mechanisms excluding blister formation.