Surface characteristics of V-Ga alloys after irradiation by Ar+ and N+ ions

V-5Ga-6Cr and V-5Ga-0.05Ce vanadium alloys irradiated by Ar+ and N+ ions with energies of 20 keV have been investigated. Irradiation by Ar+ and N+ ions leads to strengthening of the surface layers of samples. Their thicknesses exceed the projectile ranges of these ions (16.4 and 32.8 nm, respectively) in vanadium by more than two orders of magnitude. The experimentally determined penetration depth of argon ions is less that 70 nm. The sample side irradiated by Ar+ ions has a predominant orientation of crystallites in the (100) and (211) planes, while the unirradiated sample has a (110) surface. The lattice parameter of the irradiated sample does not differ from that of the initial sample. Possible mechanisms by which modified deep layers are formed during ion bombardment are discussed.