Low energy ion scattering as a probe of neon radiation damage in nickel

The channelling of low energy (keV) hydrogen ions in double alignment geometry has been used to probe damage induced in a (110) nickel specimen by low energy neon irradiation. The channelling spectra, which exhibit a clear surface peak. yield information on both surface and near-surface radiation damage. We present results on sub-surface damage build up, as a function of fluence at different neon energies, which clearly indicate sensitivity to damage level and depth. Asymmetries observed in ion yields along crystallographically equivalent direction are discussed in terms of possible damage configurations.