Partial crystallization of an amorphous alloy by electronic energy deposition.

The first experimental evidence is reported of crystallization induced in an amorphous alloy by a high density of electronic excitation deposited along the path of swift heavy ions. The formation of nanocrystalline iron boride phases was observed in an amorphous Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 alloy irradiated at low temperature with 5 GeV Pb ions up to fluences of 1 x 10(11) ions cm-2. No evidence for the formation of the Fe(Si) phase was found. This phenomenon was interpreted in terms of the relaxation of the high level of energy deposited in electronic excitations along the path of Pb ions in the target, which induces extensive stress and strain that could destabilize the amorphous structure.