Radiation Response of Rhombohedral Oxides

The radiation response of three rhombohedral oxides, namely, sapphire ({alpha}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}), ilmenite (FeTiO{sub 3}), and geikielite (MgTiO{sub 3}), has been examined by irradiating electron transparent samples with 1 MeV Kr(+) and 1.5 MeV Xe(+)ions. The microstructural changes during irradiation were observed in situ in a high-voltage electron microscope using electron diffraction and microscopy. The irradiation conditions were designed to minimize beam heating and chemical effects due to the implanted ion. Of the three oxides studied, ilmenite is the most susceptible to radiation-induced amorphization while sapphire is the least susceptible. In all three materials, the critical temperature for amorphization was below 300 K indicating good room temperature resistance to amorphization by energetic beams