Anomalous ion accelerated bulk diffusion of interstitial nitrogen

Interstitial N diffusion under low energy (approximately 700 eV) Ar+ bombardment at 673 K in ion beam nitrided austenitic stainless steel is investigated. Ar+ ion bombardment increases the N mobility in depths far beyond the ion penetration depth, resulting in an increased broadening of the N depth profile as a function of Ar+ flux. This effect cannot be explained by any established mechanism of radiation-enhanced diffusion. An explanation based on quasiparticle-enhanced mobility is proposed.