Molecular dynamics simulation of atomic beam bombardment on a solid surface

Molecular dynamics simulations regarding the life-time assessment of the fusion reactor materials are carried out. In this study, the high energy impacts of a mono-atom and clusters of atoms on a solid surface are treated as sputtering and re-deposition processes. In case of the 3.2 KeV mono-atom impact, the projectile penetrates deeply into the target material and creates a high temperature region similar to volumetric heating. A phase change from liquid to solid accompanies this heating. In case of the 256 atom, 12 eV per atom cluster impact, the energies are transferred to the surface atoms of the target. The high temperature region propagates into the target like a thermal shock wave. The energy dependency of the target wearing due to the cluster impact is discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.