Application of Particle and Laser Beams in Materials Technology

The development of advanced materials with pre-selected properties is one of the main goals of materials research. Of special interest are electronics, high-temperature and superhard materials for various applications, as well as alloys with improved wear, corrosion and mechanical resistance properties. The technical challenge connected with the production of these materials is not only associated with the development of new specialized preparation techniques but also with quality control. The energetic charged particle, electron and photon beams offer the possibility of modifying the properties of the near-surface regions of materials without seriously affecting their bulk, and provide analytical tools for testing their quality. This text provides an overview of this rapidly expanding field. Fundamental aspects concerning the interactions and collisions on atomic, nuclear and solid state scale are presented in a didactic way, along with the application of a variety of techniques for the solution of problems ranging from the development of electronics materials to corrosion research and from archaeometry to environmental protection.It is divided into six thematic units: fundamentals, surface analysis techniques, laser beams in materials technology, accelerator-based techniques in materials technology, materials modification and synchrotron radiation.