Retention coefficients and thermal release profiles of ion-injected argon from silicates and iron

Abstract

Thermal release profiles and retention coefficients of injected argon ions were investigated as functions of substrate composition and prior ion-irradiation history. Samples of forsterite, enstatite, oligoclase, obsidian, and cold-rolled steel were irradiated with various sequences of 1 keV H+, 4 keV He+, and 40 keV Ar+. The release temperature of the maximum argon concentration was found to be a function of incident Ar+ dose and pre-irradiation history but not substrate composition. The hydrogen or helium pre-irradiation converted the volume diffusion argon release to a low temperature defect diffusion release. An increase in the incident dose of Ar+ ions resulted in increasing the percentage of the argon released by defect diffusion, and also decreased the argon retention coefficient.