The Radiation Compaction of Vitreous Silica

Abstract

The dilatations (negative) caused by neutrons, 40–600 keV electrons, 140 keV H+, D+, He+, and gamma rays are given as a function of dose and are compared. The presaturation dependence is linear for neutrons, He+, and D+, and depends on the 0.5–0.7 power of dose for H+, electrons, and gamma rays. The dilatations are not temperature dependent from about 0°–100°C, hence are not thermally activated. The dilatations are explained as compaction of the silica structure resulting from oxygens moving into some of the ``free volume,'' the structural change being similar to that occurring on pressure, shock, or thermal compaction of vitreous silica. The mechanism given for the neutron-induced compaction involves the state of high vibrational excitation developed in the slowing down of scattered atoms. The compaction by gamma rays, electrons, protons, or deuterons is explained as caused by transient ionization relaxing Si–O binding to permit oxygens to move into the ``free volume'' where they may be locked-in on recombination by similar incidents occurring nearby. The reduced power dependence is explained as a ``hardening'' effect; succeeding events are more difficult to perform or are performed with lower probability. The compaction caused by He+ (140 keV) seems to possess an equal contribution from ionization compaction and that caused by energy transfer to atomic vibrations.