The first comparative study was made, of surface tracks, by using both tapping-mode scanning force microscopy and shadow-replica electron microscopy. The tracks, with dimensions that were of the order of 10 to 100nm, were produced on gypsum by using 78.2MeV 127I ions at grazing angles. When using tapping-mode scanning force microscopy, the finite radius of curvature of the probe tip limited the spatial resolution. Under some conditions, apparent deformation of the surface defects was observed; thus indicating that the technique could be sensitive to other surface properties besides topography. The rim-to-rim crater widths and overall lengths were found to be the same when measured using either method. On the other hand, the defect heights were somewhat overestimated by tapping-mode scanning force microscopy as compared with shadow-replica electron microscopy. It was concluded that track formation involved explosive vaporization.

D.A.Kolesnikov, C.T.Reimann, I.V.Vorobyova: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 1997, 122[2], 255-61