Crater formation on the surface of refractory alloys during high-power ion-beam processing

The effect of high-power, pulsed ion-beam irradiation and various methods of preliminary surface treatment on crater formation process was examined using Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The crater distribution density, size and shape, along with their microhardness and chemical composition inside and outside them were determined. As a result of these experiments, the most probable mechanisms of crater formation on the surface of refractory alloys were established.