Change of Interatomic Forces in Metal Under the Action Of Ionizing Radiation

The interatomic interaction in a metal in the presence of ionized states was investigated by means of pseudopotentials. The parameters of the form factors were determined by the quantum defect method using the spectroscopic terms of free ions. It is shown that ionization leads to a significant change in the interatomic interaction. Atoms land on the repulsive branch of the potential function, as a result of which the crystal lattice passes into a nonequilibrium state. The screening properties of conduction electrons strongly depend on their concentration, which can lead to a local change in the elastic properties of matter near the track of a fast charged particle.