Effect of ion-induced secondary radiations on the formation of extended defects and radiolysis beyond the range of swift 12C, 50Ti, and 52Cr ions in LiF

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study the role of ion-induced secondary radiations on structural damage in LiF crystals irradiated with ∼ 10 MeV/u energy 12C, 50Ti, and 52Cr ions using experimental methods of nanoindentation, Atomic Force Microscopy, optical absorption, depth-resolved photoluminescence and chemical etching. In LiF crystals irradiated at room temperature with 50Ti and 52Cr ions, the chemical etching method revealed formation of nano-sized colloids in a wide area (up to one mm) beyond the ion penetration depth. Annealing experiments on irradiated samples at temperatures above 620 K, show enhanced manifestations of radiolysis in ion-irradiated and beyond-range areas accompanied by the emission of radiolysis residues. The multicomponent secondary radiation following the ion-induced inelastic nuclear reactions is discussed as the plausible mechanism of the observed long-range damage.