Correlated accumulation of microcracks in impact damaged surface of α-quartz amorphized by Ar-=SUP=-+-=/SUP=- ions implantation

The microcrack accumulation in impact damaged α-quartz plates prior to and after the Ar + -ion implantation was studied with acoustical emission (AE) method. 40 keV doses of 10 14 16 ion/cm 2 were applied. statistical analysis energy distribution impact-induced AE time series detected unirradiated samples showed a random (poissonian type) defects which is specific for mechanical destruction homogeneous brittle materials. excited when damaging preliminary implanted followed power law typical fracture heterogeneous solids such as rocks, ceramics, etc. optical photography evidenced transition from (prior implantation) ductile damage formation caused by disturbed interconnectivity crystalline structure irradiated specimens. Keywords: ion implantation, alpha quartz, damaging, emission.