Influence of the Electronic Stopping Power on the Damage Rate of Yttrium-Iron Garnets Irradiated by High-Energy Heavy Ions

Abstract

Heavy-ion irradiation in the GeV range is an excellent way to investigate electronic stopping power effects in solids up to a few keV/Å. Effects of 1.8 GeV Ar, 2.9 GeV Kr and 3.0 GeV Xe irradiations of yttrium-iron garnets have been investigated by magnetic measurements and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). The dominant effect of electronic losses is demonstrated. For the first time, TEM images of latent tracks are presented.