Xenon implantation in nanodiamonds: in situ transmission electronmicroscopy study and molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract

Xenon in nanodiamonds from meteorites is a remarkable impurity. At least two isotopically dif-ferent components of Xe are known: P3 and Xe-HL. The P3 component might represent adsorbed Xe; whereas the component enriched in heavy and light isotopes (Xe-HL) is likely related to explosions of Supernovae of types I [1] or II [2]. Formation mechanism of nanodiamonds and their astrophysical sources remain debatable. It is widely ac-cepted that the HL component was implanted. However, experimental data on radiation resistance of nanoparticles are scarce and contradictory results were obtained. We present results of the first investigation of the Xe implanta-tion process into nanodiamonds of various sizes studied in situ in Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), com-plemented by advanced Molecular Dynamics simulations.