Fermi-shuttle processes in the electron emission by ion impact:: Contribution to radiation damages

Secondary electrons, formed in biological tissues by high-energy particle impact, significantly contribute to the fragmentation of small molecules and to single- and double-strand brakes in DNA. Differential spectra of electrons emitted in the collisions of decelerating swift ions are of vital importance for estimating ion impact radiation damages. We demonstrate that the so-called Fermi-shuttle-type acceleration mechanism can produce a significant enhancement in the emission of high-energy secondary electrons. Double differential cross-sections for electron emission, measured in the collisions of N+ and N-2(+) ions with Ar targets at 750 keV/u impact energy, clearly show this effect. The measured cross-sections are in good agreement with the theoretical results of CTMC calculations. Multiple scattering contribution to the Ar spectra above 300 eV is proved to be significant. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.