Modelling of ion-driven nanostructures

Recently it has been demonstrated that ion irradiation of nanostructures, interfaces and ultrathin magnetic films can modify substantially the nanocluster size distribution [1], the spatial nanocluster alignment [2], the nanocluster shape [3] and the chemical order of metal alloys [4]. Furthermore, low-energy ion-erosion of semiconductor [5] and metal [6] surfaces can result in the formation and self-organization of nanostructures.
For all phenomena listed above (disregarding chemical ordering), ion-irradiation-activated interface/surface processes have been identified as the driving force. Thus, a fundamental understanding of the basic mechanisms of the interface/surface evolution under ion-irradiation might allow a controlled growth and a taming of properties of nanostructures.
This contribution will review theoretical studies and atomistic computer simulations which demonstrate that the above listed phenomena have the same origin: a competition of surface erosion or interface mixing on the one hand and diffusional processes on the other. The far-from-equilibrium processing of nanostructures can lead to exotic properties like “negative interface energy” and “inverse Ostwald ripening”.
[ 1] K.-H. Heinig, T. Müller, B.Schmidt, M. Strobel, W. Möller, Appl. Phys. A 77, 17–25 (2003).
[ 2] L. Röntzsch, K.-H. Heinig, and B. Schmidt, Mater. Sci. Semicond. Proc. 7, 357 (2004).
T. Müller, K.H. Heinig, and W. Möller, Appl. Phys. Lett. 81, 2373 (2002).
T. Müller, K.H. Heinig, W. Möller, C. Bonafos, H. Coffin, N. Cherkashin, G. Assayag,
S. Schamm, G. Zanchi, A. Claverie, M. Tencé, C. Colliex, Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 2373 (2004).
[ 3] K.-H. Heinig, in Proc. Workshop „Ion Beam Shaping of Metal Nanoparticles“, ed. A. Polman, Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dec17 (2004).
[ 4] H. Bernas, J.-Ph. Attane, K.-H. Heinig, D. Halley, D. Ravelosona, A. Marty, P. Auric, C. Chappert, Y. Samson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 077203 (2003).
[ 5] S. Facsko et al., Science 285, 1551 (1999).
[ 6] M. Strobel, K.H. Heinig, T. Michely, Surf. Sci. 486, 136 (2001).
T. Michely, M. Kalff, G. Comsa, M. Strobel, K.H. Heinig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 2589 (2001).