Electron Irradiation Damage in Multi-Component Glasses

Abstract

Understanding electron beam induced damage in glasses, especially in multi-component glasses, is very important, since the interaction of electron probes with glass is a very common approach to determine glass composition and structure. For example, the decay of characteristic X-ray and Auger electron intensities, using electron beams as probes, of alkalis in glasses have been known for years. In addition, both phase separation and formation of gas bubbles in the glasses have also been reported. Many irradiation effects are strongly dependent on the structure, bonding and composition of matter. In general, three types of mechanisms, knock-on damage, ionization and field-induced migration have been introduced to describe the damage induced by electron irradiation. Here, we demonstrate electron irradiation induced phase decomposition in a multi-component oxide glass, and introduce a modified model to interpret the damage process.