The Effect of a High-Power Pulsed Ion Beam on the Surface Topography of Tungsten

The tungsten surface was processed by a high power pulsed ion beam at the TEMP accelerator (C-n(+) ions, accelerating voltage of 200 +/- 10 kV, energy density of a single pulse of 2.5-3.0 J/cm(2)). Changes in the relief and structure of the surface of tungsten samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy. After treatment with a high-power pulsed ion beam (HPIB), defects in the form of craters form on the surface of tungsten. The number of craters decreases with an increase in the number of impact pulses. After exposure to three pulses, microcraters are forms in the surface layer along the grain boundaries. After ten pulses, there are practically no cracks on the irradiated surface. An increase in the number of pulses leads to the formation of a more equiaxed ultrafine-grained structure in the near-surface layer of tungsten.