Structural and optical properties of Y3Al5O12 single crystals irradiated by swift heavy Xe ions


Dauletbekova A. Dosmagambetov Z. Manika I. Ignatans R. Smits K. Majewski-Napierkowski A. Zorenko Y. Akilbekov A. Assylbayev R. Popov A.I. Karipbayev Z. Aralbayeva G.
December 2025Nature Research

Scientific Reports
2025#15Issue 1

The multifaceted radiation effects occurring in advanced optical material – the crystals of yttrium aluminum garnet Y3Al5O12, irradiated by swift heavy 230 MeV Xe ions to fluences of 6 × 1010-1013 ions/cm2 have been investigated using various research techniques, including optical absorption, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence under excitation by the synchrotron radiation, nanohardness measurements, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The near-surface layer at high fluence becomes amorphous, and material softening indicates destruction of cation-anion bonds due to tracks overlapping. Transmission electron microscopy analysis confirmed the presence of continuous tracks in irradiated Y3Al5O12 crystals at energy losses above 10 keV/nm, whereas lower-energy tracks appear as chains of smaller defects. The core track diameter is dc(5.00 0.15) nm, with a surrounding damaged region of dd (10.00 0.15) nm. An increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies (F and F+ centers) and YAl antisite defects with increasing irradiation fluence is confirmed through photoluminescence spectra of initial and irradiated crystals at 9 K. In addition, YAl–F⁺ and/or YAl–F dimers may form based on antisite defects associated with F-like centers, as a result of melting and crystalization processes occurring during track formation under Xe ion irradiation.

Nanohardness , Optical absorption and photoluminescence , Raman spectra , Swift heavy ions , Synchrotron radiation , Y3Al5O12

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Department of Technical Physics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satbayev Str. 2, Astana, 100000, Kazakhstan
ISSP - Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Kengaraga 8, Riga, LV-1063, Latvia
Department of Physics, Kazimierz Wielki University, Powstańców Wielkopolskich str., 2, Bydgoszcz, 85-090, Poland
Margulan University, Mira Str. 60, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan

Department of Technical Physics
ISSP - Institute of Solid State Physics
Department of Physics
Margulan University

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026