A Monte Carlo simulation of range and damage distributions for energetic ions in amorphous solids

A simple Monte Carlo computer simulation of the interaction between energetic ions and the atoms of a solid is presented. Collisions are described by a Moliere potential at low energies and a Coulomb potential at high energies. The scattering due to nuclear collisions is calculated using a recently published analytical expression which permits rapid evaluation of the scattering angle. The cross-section of the elastic collision is estimated by fitting formulae. A few examples of the simulation are presented and compared with the results obtained using more sophisticated Monte Carlo methods. (author)