Kinetics of Radiation Damage of Quartz Glass by Low-Energy Protons

Abstract

In a ground-based simulation of the space environment of high vacuum, heat sink, and low-energy protons (140 keV), the change in optical transmittance of JGS3 optical quartz glass was studied, and a kinetic model for the evolution of color centers in the process of radiation damage was explored. Experimental results show that radiation damage effects obviously occur in the surface layer of quartz glass under high-flux and low-energy proton radiation. The optical density change increases rapidly and then a saturation trend appears with increasing absorption dose. Based on experimental results, a kinetic model for the evolution of color centers in quartz glass irradiated with protons is proposed, and the change in optical density is given. The fitted curve is similar to experimental ones. It is believed that the proposed kinetic model can be used in the quantitative description of the change in optical properties of quartz glass increasing absorption dose under low-energy proton radiation.