Publication Type
Journal
Journal Name
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Publication Date
Page Number
15
Volume
405
Abstract
Neutron total scattering and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the structural recovery of irradiated polycrystalline ThO2 (2.2 GeV Au, φ = 1×1013 ions/cm2) during isochronal annealing. Neutron diffraction patterns showed that the Bragg signal-to-noise ratio increases and the unit cell parameter decreases as a function of isochronal annealing temperature, with the latter reaching its pre-irradiation value by 750 C. Diffuse neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy measurements indicate that an isochronal annealing event occurs between 275 – 425 C. This feature is attributed to the annihilation of oxygen point defects and small oxygen defect clusters.
