Swift Heavy Ion-induced Mixing

In this paper, the possible swift heavy ion (SRI)-matter interaction processes and their applicability to SRI-induced mixing have been discussed. The assumption that the SRI mixing is a consequence of a transient molten state diffusion has been brought forward. The following experimental evidences have been presented to verify the concepts developed for SRI mixing process: (i) Evidence of high temperature conditions in materials produced by SRI's via the study of SRI mixing in an Fe/Fe⁵⁷/Si system; (ii) Verification of the hypothesis of transient molten state diffusion via a detailed study on Fe/Si system; (iii) The role played by a thermodynamical parameter, viz., interfacial free energy via a SRI mixing study on an Fe/Si multilayer; (iv) Demonstration of the occurrence of the process in an exclusively thermal-spike determined metalimetal system, viz., Fe/Ni multilayer; and (v) synthesis of technologically important SiC phases at room temperature via SRI mixing of C-allotrope/Si multilayers.