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G. Wachter, K. Tökési, G. Betz, C. Lemell, J. Burgdörfer:
"Modelling surface restructuring by slow highly charged ions";
Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B, 317 (2013), 149 - 153.

We theoretically investigate surface modifications on alkaline earth halides due to highly charged ion impact, focusing on recent experimental evidence for both etch pit and nano-hillock formation on CaF2 (A.S. El-Said et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, (2012) 117602 [1]). We discuss mechanisms for converting the projectile potential and kinetic energies into thermal energy capable of changing the surface structure. A proof-of-principle classical molecular dynamics simulation suggests the existence of two thresholds which we associate with etch pit and nano-hillock formation in qualitative agreement with experiment.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2013.01.046