Irradiation effects in amorphous ZrO2

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Abstract
Amorphous ZrO2 was irradiated in order to study respectively electronic excitation and displacement cascade-induced thermal effects. We have first studied the crystallization of amorphous ZrO2 by heating it in a furnace. We have then compared these thermal effects with radiation induced thermal effects. Tracks, of non-crystalline structure, have been observed in amorphous ZrO2 irradiated with fission fragments at low dose. The threshold stopping power of fission fragments leaving a track was determined to be 1300 eV/A. White spots have also been observed in amorphous ZrO2 irradiated with 1 MeV Kr+ ions. They exhibit, in electron microscopy, a more intense transmission than the amorphous matrix. It is shown that displacement spikes are responsible for these spots and that the atomic order is higher in these spots than in the amorphous matrix. The threshold energy, for a primary to create a displacement spike able to induce such a spot, was found to be 50 keV.

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