| Title: |
Direct visualization of damage cascades in lithium niobate crystals caused by high-energy ions |
| Author(s): |
M.-R. Zamani-Meymian  , K. Peithmann , K. Maier , H. Schmid and W. Mader |
| Journal: |
J. Phys. Condensed Matter |
| Work type: |
Article |
| Year: |
2009 |
| Volume: |
21 |
| Issue: |
7 |
| Pages: |
075402 |
| Publisher: |
IOP PUBLISHING LTD |
| Publisher address: |
DIRAC HOUSE, TEMPLE BACK, BRISTOL BS1 6BE, ENGLAND |
| DOI: |
10.1088/0953-8984/21/7/075402 |
| ISSN: |
0953-8984 |
| File URL: |
http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-8984/21/7/075402/ |
| Abstract: |
Congruently melting undoped lithium niobate crystals are irradiated with 20 MeV3 He ions which penetrate the entire crystal volume. Radiation damage effects are directly visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) where damage zones with diameters of 4 nm give rise to circular Fresnel fringe contrasts. These regions of modified material, appearing circular in cross-section, are interpreted as damage cascades inflicted by fast Nb and O atoms displaced in knock-on collisions with primary He-3 ions. This two-step displacement process results in local density changes manifested by the contrast behaviour of Fresnel fringes observed in TEM images. |
