An apparent threshold is found for ejection of neutral sulfur from condensed sulfur due to electronic energy deposited by fast, light ions. This effect is important for understanding experiments on electronically stimulated sputtering (desorption) of large molecules. The threshold is determined by the density of ‘‘ionization’’ events deposited in the solid, and the nature of the threshold measured is affected by a material alteration process.

• Received 28 December 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.38.1516