ION BOMBARDMENT DAMAGE IN alpha -QUARTZ AT 50-295 K.

Backscattering/channeling measurements have been used to analyze the damage produced in single crystals of alpha -quartz bombarded with 15-120 kev Ne** plus , Ar** plus , Kr** plus , Sb** plus and Bi** plus ions at 50 and 295 K. Damage production rates of up to 20 times those predicted by linear cascade theory have been observed. The damage versus dose behavior is determined and related to the average cascade energy density and average fractional damage, occurring without the individual cascade.