Energetic cluster ion impacts on carbon and gold/carbon films

Carbon films and carbon films coated with gold have been bombarded with water clusters of 25 to 100 molecules accelerated to 300 kV. Clusters of 100 molecules produced craters of approximately 7-8 nm in diameter; 50 molecules produced craters of approximately 1.5-2 nm in diameter; while clusters of 25 molecules failed to produce any noticeable effects on the films. The effects of the thin layer of gold was to both absorb the cluster energy and to scatter cluster atoms or molecules containing hydrogen and oxygen through relatively wide angles in the projectile penetration process. 2 figures