Identical Response of Insulators to Irradiations by Swift Heavy Ions: Application to Experiments on Gd2Ti2O7

Abstract

Track radii Re induced by swift heavy ions are studied. The experimental track data are analyzed in Gd2Ti2O7 pyrochlore in the range Se = 6−54 keV nm−1 (Se: electronic stopping power), including irradiations by low‐ and high‐velocity ions. The Analytical Thermal Spike Model (ATSM) is applied, whose main features are reviewed. The track data of Gd2Ti2O7 exhibit scaling features which mean simple quantitative relationships with track sizes of other insulators controlled only by a single materials parameter (MP), the melting temperature Tm. The Re2−Se track evolution curve is described in the whole range of Se without the application of any individual fitting parameter and MPs apart from Tm; the thresholds for track formation are Set = 6.1 and 14.4 keV nm−1 for E < 2 MeV/nucleon and E > 8 MeV/nucleon, respectively. The unique role of Tm is a highly important limitation for the mechanism of track formation. The practical consequences of the results are discussed with respect to the estimation of irradiation parameters.