Monte Carlo simulation of damage and amorphization induced by swift-ion irradiation in $LiNbO3$

This paper presents a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation tool which is applied to describe the ion beam induced damage generated by electronic excitation in $LiNbO3$⁠. Based on a previously published thermal spike based analytical model, the MC technique allows for a more flexible and accurate treatment of the problem. A main advantage of this approach with respect to the analytical one is the possibility of studying the role of statistical fluctuations, relevant at low fluences. The paper recalls the main features of the physical model, describes the MC algorithm, and compares simulation results to experimental data (irradiations of $LiNbO3$ using silicon ions at 5 and $7.5MeV$ and oxygen ions at $5MeV$⁠).