Alpha-decay induced shortening of fission tracks simulated by in situ ion irradiation
Li W. Cheng Y. Feng L. Niu J. Liu Y. Skuratov V.A. Zdorovets M.V. Boatner L.A. Ewing R.C.
15 April 2021Elsevier Ltd
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
2021#2991 - 14 pp.
The diffusion of defects (e.g., vacancies and interstitials) and elements used for dating (e.g., He and Pb) in a mineral structure is a thermal process: This is the primary assumption used to determine the age and thermal history of minerals. For instance, thermal history reconstruction, through the number and length distribution of tracks produced by spontaneous fission of 238U, is obtained by assuming a thermal event to be the only energy source for shortening of fission tracks. Here, we report a new, non-thermal energy source that induces additional shortening of fission tracks by the irradiation of alpha-recoils from the alpha-decay of 238U and 232Th. We simulate alpha-decay induced track-shortening by combining ion accelerator irradiations with transmission electron microscopy. This allows for the first observation of track-shrinkage during in situ ion irradiation. We show that rather than alpha-particles, alpha-recoils induce a significant shortening of fission tracks by nuclear-collisions. The shortening of track-length can be quantified as a function of alpha-decay event dose. However, apatite is less sensitive than zircon to this non-thermal process. The findings exemplify the interactions among different types of self-irradiation from alpha-particles, alpha-recoils and fission-fragment nuclei in single mineral grains and have important implications for the use of zircon and apatite for radiometric dating and thermochronology.
Alpha-decay , Apatite , Fission tracks , Radiation effects , Zircon
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CAS Centre for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, and Key Laboratory of Continental Collision and Plateau Uplift, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
School of Gemology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China
School of Earth Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russian Federation
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, Russian Federation
Dubna State University, Dubna, Moscow Region, Russian Federation
The Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Materials Science & Technology Division, Retired, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, 37831-6044, TN, United States
Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305-2115, CA, United States
CAS Centre for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences
School of Gemology
School of Earth Sciences
Flerov Laboratory for Nuclear Reactions
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI
Dubna State University
The Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Republic of Kazakhstan
L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
Ural Federal University
Materials Science & Technology Division
Department of Geological Sciences
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