Channeling in diatomic crystals: He ions in α-Al2O3

Abstract
The axial and planar channeling of 1.6 MeV He in α-Al2O3 crystals has been studied at room temperature. The experimental results have been compared with the theoretical evaluation following Gemmell-Mikkelson generalization of Barrett's formulas and the Varelas-Sizmann treatment. The agreement between experimental and theoretical results is good if the distortion of the oxygen sublattice, typical of the corundum structure, is taken into account by a simple procedure.