Controlling subsurface radiation tolerance in swift heavy ion irradiated ceramics
Bessonov V. OConnell J. Shomenov T. Abdullaev A. Kozlovskiy A. Skuratov V. Wang Y. Utegulov Z.
15 April 2026Elsevier B.V.
Applied Surface Science
2026#725
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 MgAl2O4 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 (C11, C22, C44) and photoelastic (P12, P21) constants decrease with fluence, they recover at deeper regions following the tapering of ion tracks and reduction of electronic stopping power (Se). 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.
Ceramics , Elastic , MgAl2O4 , Photoelastic , Radiation tolerance , Refractive index , Strain , Swift heavy ions
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Department of Physics, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Center for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, Summerstrand, 6031, South Africa
Center for Energy and Advanced Materials Science, National Laboratory Astana, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Engineering Profile Laboratory, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, 010008, Kazakhstan
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Moscow Region, Dubna, 141980, Russian Federation
Dubna State University, Moscow Region, Dubna, 141980, Russian Federation
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Private Institution “Nazarbayev University Research Administration”, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Physics
Center for High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy
Center for Energy and Advanced Materials Science
Engineering Profile Laboratory
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
Dubna State University
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Private Institution “Nazarbayev University Research Administration”
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Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026