Structural phase transformations in tin dioxide under the action of a nanosecond high-power ion beam

Structural phase transformations in polycrystalline tin dioxide under the action of a nanosecond high-power ion beam with a current density of 50–150 A/cm$^2$ are studied. It is found that the effect of a beam with a current density of 150 A/cm$^2$ on SnO$_2$ leads to the formation of submicron particles of tetragonal SnO with an average size of 210 nm on the exposed surface. The particles have a pronounced crystallographic facet pattern. Possible mechanisms of the observed transformations are discussed.