Abstract
Ionizing radiations dissipate most of their energy in solids by exciting electrons. Severe radiation damage is produced in organic substances by this process, but in metals the free electron structure is immune to ionization damage. Atoms are displaced by collisions with fast particles and the point defects so created alter the electrical and thermal properties of solids. These point defects interact strongly with dislocations so that the mechanical properties of metals are sensitive to heavy-particle bombardment. In semi-conductors the displaced atoms can trap electrons and holes, thereby producing large changes in electrical properties. Prolonged bombardments produce drastic effects; some minerals become non-crystalline, uranium crystals change shape, some metals become brittle, and rare gas atoms created by transmutations may produce swelling and disintegration at high temperatures.
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