The detailed structural changes that occur during ion-beam–induced amorphization of a solid have been experimentally determined for the first time using single-crystal surfaces of lead pyrophosphate that were implanted with varying doses of ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{3+}$ ions. For all Pb-implant doses, the structure of the amorphous layer produced by ion bombardment was found to be significantly different than the structure of lead pyrophosphate glass prepared via thermal quenching.

• Received 14 November 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.62.1138