title: Synergy of elastic and inelastic energy loss on ion track formation in SrTiO₃.
abstract: While the interaction of energetic ions with solids is well known to result in inelastic energy loss to electrons and elastic energy loss to atomic nuclei in the solid, the coupled effects of these energy losses on defect production, nanostructure evolution and phase transformations in ionic and covalently bonded materials are complex and not well understood due to dependencies on electron-electron scattering processes, electron-phonon coupling, localized electronic excitations, diffusivity of charged defects, and solid-state radiolysis. Here we show that a colossal synergy occurs between inelastic energy loss and pre-existing atomic defects created by elastic energy loss in single crystal strontium titanate (SrTiO₃), resulting in the formation of nanometer-sized amorphous tracks, but only in the narrow region with pre-existing defects. These defects locally decrease the electronic and atomic thermal conductivities and increase electron-phonon coupling, which locally increase the intensity of the thermal spike for each ion. This work identifies a major gap in understanding on the role of defects in electronic energy dissipation and electron-phonon coupling; it also provides insights for creating novel interfaces and nanostructures to functionalize thin film structures, including tunable electronic, ionic, magnetic and optical properties.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA [2] Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zarkadoula
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Olli H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Pakarinen
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Ritesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sachan
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chisholm
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Haizhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Yanwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang