Applications of Ion Track Lithography in Vacuum Microelectronics

Abstract

When a high-velocity (i.e., typically > 0.1 MeV/amu) ion passes through a material it can change the properties of the material within a cylindrical zone centered on the essentially straight trajectory of the ion. The electronic bonding, phase, and density are among the properties modified in the zone, which is called a latent nuclear, or ion, track. Because the diameters of latent ion tracks are typically less than 20 nm, selective chemical etching is generally employed to improve the detection and assessment of the tracks. Historically, etched nuclear tracks have been used mainly for nuclear particle identification, geochronology, measurement of extremely low-dose radiation levels, and creation of membrane filters.