In situ and postradiation analysis of mechanical stress in Al2O3:Cr induced by swift heavy-ion irradiation

Abstract Optical spectroscopy and TEM techniques have been applied to study the radiation damage and correlated mechanical stresses in Al2O3 and Al2O3:Cr single crystals induced by (1–3) MeV/amu Kr, Xe and Bi ion irradiation. Mechanical stresses were evaluated in situ using a piezospectroscopic effect through the shift of the respective lines in ionoluminescence spectra. It was found that dose dependence of the stress level for Xe and Bi ions, when ionization energy loss exceeds the threshold of damage formation via electronic excitations, exhibits several alternate stages showing the build-up and relaxation of stresses. The beginning of relaxation stages is observed at fluences associated …