Anisotropic Core-Shell Swift Heavy Ion Tracks in beta-Ga2O3

Summary

arXiv:2602.13614v2 Announce Type: replace Abstract: Swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation generates nanoscale ion tracks through intense electronic excitation, yet the microscopic mechanisms governing their morphology and phase stability in low symmetry oxides remain poorly understood. Here, a multiscale atomistic simulation framework is used to investigate the formation and recovery of SHI-induced tracks in monoclinic $\beta$-Ga2O3 over a wide range of electronic energy losses (Se) and crystallographic orientations. A sequence of distinct structural responses is identified with increasing Se: (i) complete lattice recovery at low Se; (ii) recrystallization into a metastable $\gamma$-Ga2O3 phase at intermediate Se; and (iii) the formation of core-shell ion tracks at high Se, consisting of an amorphous core surrounded by a recrystallized $\gamma$-phase shell.