Tracks induced in TeO2 by heavy ions at low velocities

On the basis of its thermal properties, TeO2 crystal was selected as an insulator with low threshold electronic stopping power for track formation Set. The crystals were irradiated by S, Zn, Mo, Kr, Te and Pb ions and the optical absorption and track formation were studied. Comparison is made with the published results on LiNbO3 ,Y 3Fe5O12 and SiO2 quartz. Good quantitative agreement is found with the predictions of the thermal spike model of Szenes with respect to Set and the variation of the track size with the electronic stopping power Se. It is shown that TeO2 has a high eAciency g at low ion velocities, which is a characteristic feature of the damage cross-section velocity eAect. ” 200…