Electronic excitation and structural stability of solids

摘要: Abstract Passing through solid matter swift heavy ions generate a high density of electronic excitations. Thus large fraction the valence electrons are removed from band states insulators or semiconductors and put into conduction states. Typically, is bonding character has antibonding character; then excitations weaken covalent bonds cause repulsive force between atoms. An instability atomic structure thus arises, which occurs on femtosecond timescale. The atoms reach kinetic energies destroyed. This mechanism distinct complementary to Coulomb explosion thermal spike models for damage done by ions. It should be especially important materials with competing pressure phase where excitons induce lattice defects.