Surface nanostructure formation by the interaction of slow xenon ions on HOPG surfaces

Experiments on nanostructure formation on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces irradiated by slow highly charged Xe^q+ (q23-29) ions have been carried out at a new experimental terminal for surface physics on the 320 kV ECR platform at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP). In the tapping mode atomic force microscope (AFM) image, the nano-sized hillocks protruding from the surfaces are probed. The height and diameter of the nanostructures increase with the projectile charge state. The present results reveal a similarity between the nanostructure formation produced by slow highly charged ions and the track formation induced by swift heavy ions.