An investigation of the thermal profiles induced by energetic carbon molecules on a graphite surface Original Research Article

Molecular Dynamics simulation are used to investigate the velocity distributions of a graphite lattice after being struck by carbon molecules. A temperature profile can be inferred from this velocity distribution and the “cooling” down time of the ensuing thermal spike has been investigated. A range of molecule shapes and sizes for different impact energies is investigated. The kinetic energy from the impacts is seen to spread across the surface much faster than into the material in line with the properties of the thermal diffusivity of graphite. A rapid phonon transport mechanism is seen to propagate out from the impact site. The velocity of the wave is found to be independent of the molecule size, shape and energy but the amplitude and start time is dependent on all of these parameters.