Direct visualization of damage cascades in lithium niobate crystals caused by high-energy ions

Congruently melting undoped lithium niobate crystals are irradiated with 20 MeV (3)He ions which penetrate the entire crystal volume. Radiation damage effects are directly visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) where damage zones with diameters of 4 nm give rise to circular Fresnel fri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2009-02, Vol.21 (7), p.075402-075402 (5)
Main Authors: Zamani-Meymian, M R, Peithmann, K, Maier, K, Schmid, H, Mader, W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Exact sciences and technology
Ion radiation effects
Physical radiation effects, radiation damage
Physics
Structure of solids and liquids
crystallography
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Summary:Congruently melting undoped lithium niobate crystals are irradiated with 20 MeV (3)He ions which penetrate the entire crystal volume. Radiation damage effects are directly visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) where damage zones with diameters of 4 nm give rise to circular Fresnel fringe contrasts. These regions of modified material, appearing circular in cross-section, are interpreted as damage cascades inflicted by fast Nb and O atoms displaced in knock-on collisions with primary (3)He ions. This two-step displacement process results in local density changes manifested by the contrast behaviour of Fresnel fringes observed in TEM images.
ISSN:0953-8984
1361-648X
DOI:10.1088/0953-8984/21/7/075402