Impurity profile modification induced in amorphous metallic alloys by high-energy heavy-ion irradiation

The atomic transport induced in amorphous metallic alloys (Ni3B) by high-energy heavy-ion irradiation is investigated by means of a Bi marker implanted in the near-surface region of the irradiated target. The modification of the marker profile due to irradiation is measured by RBS experiments. A shift of the peak maximum towards the sample surface as well as a decrease of the peak width and of the peak integral are exhibited after 500 MeV I ion irradiation. This modification, essentially due to ion electronic energy loss, is qualitatively and quantitatively in agreement with the large plastic deformation observed so far in amorphous materials