Axial channeling in ThO2

Abstract
Axial channeling in single‐crystal ThO2 was investigated with 6.5‐MeV3He++ ions. The thorium sublattice was studied by evaluation of pulse‐height distributions from backscattered 3He ions, and the oxygen sublattice by evaluation of proton pulse‐height distributions from 16O(3He, p)18 F reactions. Critical channeling angles (ψ1/2) and minimum yields (χmin) were determined for the 〈110〉 and 〈111〉 directions. Values for ψ1/2 were generally consistent with those reported for the isomorphic compound UO2, whereas χmin values were considerably smaller than those reported for UO2. These results are compared with those predicted by current channeling theories, and are discussed in terms of the relative crystal perfection of ThO2 and UO2.

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