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Controlling subsurface radiation tolerance in swift heavy ion irradiated ceramics.

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Title: Controlling subsurface radiation tolerance in swift heavy ion irradiated ceramics.
Authors: Bessonov, Vladimir1 (AUTHOR), O'Connell, Jacques2 (AUTHOR), Shomenov, Toreniyaz1,3 (AUTHOR), Abdullaev, Azat1,3 (AUTHOR), Kozlovskiy, Artem4 (AUTHOR), Skuratov, Vladimir5,6,7 (AUTHOR), Wang, Yanwei3,8,9 (AUTHOR), Utegulov, Zhandos1 (AUTHOR) zhutegulov@nu.edu.kz
Source: Applied Surface Science. Apr2026, Vol. 725, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Radiation damage, Radiation tolerance, Elasticity, Photoelasticity, Ceramics, Ion bombardment, Self-healing materials
Abstract: [Display omitted] • MgAl 2 O 4 spinel is irradiated with 710 MeV Bi ions at 6 × (1010–1012) ions/cm2 fluences. • Elasticity, photoelasticity and strains are profiled by Brillouin and reflection microscopies. • Near-surface elastic and photoelastic constants drop due to radiation-induced swelling. • Elasticity recovery is linked to densification (tracks tapering) and electronic energy loss. • High fluence yields overlapping tracks with nano-crystalline and nano-amorphous zones. Swift heavy ion irradiation induces complex, depth-dependent damage in nuclear ceramics, challenging their radiation tolerance. Using Brillouin spectroscopy and optical reflectometry, we resolve micrometer-scale elastic, photoelastic, and strain profiles in MgAl 2 O 4 spinel irradiated with 710 MeV Bi ions at fluences of 6 × (1010–1012) ions/cm2. We discover a subsurface reversal of radiation damage characterized by a swelling-to-compression transition: while near-surface elastic (C 11 , C 22 , C 44) and photoelastic (P 12 , P 21) constants decrease with fluence, they recover at deeper regions following the tapering of ion tracks and reduction of electronic stopping power (S e). At the highest fluence, overlapping tapered tracks form a composite of acoustically mismatched nano-crystalline and nano-amorphous phases, evidenced by the emergence of confined GHz longitudinal acoustic modes. This study reveals a self-healing densification mechanism driven by tapering track morphology and electronic stopping power which provides a new strategy for engineering depth-resolved tolerance in ceramics to extreme radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:[Display omitted] • MgAl 2 O 4 spinel is irradiated with 710 MeV Bi ions at 6 × (1010–1012) ions/cm2 fluences. • Elasticity, photoelasticity and strains are profiled by Brillouin and reflection microscopies. • Near-surface elastic and photoelastic constants drop due to radiation-induced swelling. • Elasticity recovery is linked to densification (tracks tapering) and electronic energy loss. • High fluence yields overlapping tracks with nano-crystalline and nano-amorphous zones. Swift heavy ion irradiation induces complex, depth-dependent damage in nuclear ceramics, challenging their radiation tolerance. Using Brillouin spectroscopy and optical reflectometry, we resolve micrometer-scale elastic, photoelastic, and strain profiles in MgAl 2 O 4 spinel irradiated with 710 MeV Bi ions at fluences of 6 × (1010–1012) ions/cm2. We discover a subsurface reversal of radiation damage characterized by a swelling-to-compression transition: while near-surface elastic (C 11 , C 22 , C 44) and photoelastic (P 12 , P 21) constants decrease with fluence, they recover at deeper regions following the tapering of ion tracks and reduction of electronic stopping power (S e). At the highest fluence, overlapping tapered tracks form a composite of acoustically mismatched nano-crystalline and nano-amorphous phases, evidenced by the emergence of confined GHz longitudinal acoustic modes. This study reveals a self-healing densification mechanism driven by tapering track morphology and electronic stopping power which provides a new strategy for engineering depth-resolved tolerance in ceramics to extreme radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:01694332
DOI:10.1016/j.apsusc.2025.165730