Heavy ion irradiation of glasses: Enhanced diffusion and preferential sputtering of alkali elements

Abstract

Soda-lime glasses have been irradiated by using different ions (H, N, O, Ne, Ar, Kr) in 20–300 keV energy range. The observed modifications in the alkali depth distribution have been analyzed on the basis of a phenomenological model, which takes into account for an enhanced diffusion and a surface preferential sputtering. A correlation between the alkali sputtering cross-section and the electronic stopping power regimes of incident particles has been determined. The alkali profiles, before and after irradiation, have been determined by resonant nuclear reactions.