Formation and growth of dislocation loops in ZnTe under irradiation of low energy Ar⁺-Ions

Abstract

Defects produced in ZnTe single crystals by Ar⁺ bombardment during ion milling for transmission electron microscopy studies are investigated in detail. The defects have been identified to be interstitial type Frank loops. Influences of ion energy and specimen temperature during the irradiation on the defect geometry are investigated. A model is proposed to describe the growing up of the loops.

Key Words:

• Radiation damage
• dislocation loop
• interstitials
• transmission electron microscopy