One of two project reports. Part B can be found at: http://hdl.handle.net/11375/18523 / Recent measurements of the sputtering of frozen gases by MeV ions gave yields several orders of magnitude greater than predicted by collision cascade theory. Only a "thermal spike" model, invoking a coupling of electronic excitation to nuclear motion, agrees qualitatively with experimental results. Yields of 300 keV to 2 MeV ions ranging in mass from 4 a.m.u. to 40 a.m.u. were investigated for ice, Kr and Xe films in the temperature range of 15°K to 120°K. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)