Small-angle neutron scattering studies on the structure of radiation defects in neutron-irradiated synthetic quartz

Abstract

The supra-atomic structure of single crystals of synthetic quartz with a dislocation density of 54 cm−2 in their initial state and after irradiation in a VVR-M reactor by fast neutrons with the energy, En > 0.1 MeV, at fluences of 2.3 × 1019 and 4.5 × 1019 N/cm2, has been studied by the method of small-angle thermal neutron scattering. It has been established that fast neutrons create point, linear, and bulk defects throughout the entire material. It has been shown that extended defects have a significant integral length per volume unit equal to ∼3 × 1011 cm/cm3, and can form a consolidated network in the sample with a cell size of ∼30 nm, through the channels of which the migration of impurity atoms and molecules is possible.