MD simulation of sputtering on surface index and surface roughness dependence

Low-energy sputtering is studied through molecular dynamics (MD) and binary-collision approximation (BCA) simulations. First, MD simulations as a preliminary study are performed for 5 keV Ar impacts on a Cu target. When random numbers gave the direction of the target crystal axis for each impact, the total sputtering yield almost agreed with the experimental yield of a polycrystalline Cu target. Second, we performed MD and BCA simulations for self-sputtering of W with an incident energy of 100 eV and incident angles of 0 degrees-85 degrees. We found that the many-body collision results in high-yield sputtering at grazing incidence. The incident angle dependence of sputtering yields fade out for an MD result with a rough surface. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.