Better predictive models may also help researchers curtail ionic erosion where it would be a bad thing, such as inside a fusion reactor.
The research team used xenon atoms from which they had stripped all but 10 of the atoms' original 54 electrons. Making an atom so highly ionized takes a lot of energy—about 50,000 electron volts. The atom soaks up all the energy that went into freeing the electrons until it is capable of imparting more energy, and thus more damage, than could be done with kinetic energy—mass and speed—alone.
"When the highly charged ion is finally released and hurtles into its target, most of its energy, about 60 percent, blows back in the 'splash' and dissipates into the vacuum," says Josh Pomeroy. "According to our measurements, 27 percent of the remaining 40 percent of the ion's energy goes into changing the shape of the material—making divots."
Pomeroy says that the remaining 13 percent is most likely converted to heat.
Measuring the impact energy of highly charged ions
Measuring the impact energy of highly charged ions
Measuring the impact energy of highly charged ions
Neat! Kinda the difference between a cannonball and an artillery shell packed with TNT! At high enough kinetic energy you may not care what hits you, but at lower kinetic energy the addition of 50 keV would certainly make a difference.
The material hit probably makes a big difference. Metals can supply the missing electrons easily, but other materials suddenly stripped of electrons locally might simply disintegrate due to the loss of bonds.
The material hit probably makes a big difference. Metals can supply the missing electrons easily, but other materials suddenly stripped of electrons locally might simply disintegrate due to the loss of bonds.