Heavy-ion beam induced effects in enriched gadolinium target films prepared by molecular plating Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2017 Elsevier B.V. A series of enriched gadolinium (Gd, Z=64) targets was prepared using the molecular plating process for nuclear physics experiments at the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University. After irradiation with 48Ca and 45Sc projectiles at center-of-target energies of Ecot=3.84.7MeV/u, the molecular films displayed visible discoloration. The morphology of the films was examined and compared to the intact target surface. The thin films underwent a heavy-ion beam-induced density change as identified by scanning electron microscopy and -particle energy loss measurements. The films became thinner and more homogenous, with the transformation occurring early on in the irradiation. This transformation is best described as a crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition induced by atomic displacement and destruction of structural order of the original film. The chemical composition of the thin films was surveyed using energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, with the results confirming the complex chemistry of the molecular films previously noted in other publications.

published proceedings

  • NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH SECTION B-BEAM INTERACTIONS WITH MATERIALS AND ATOMS

author list (cited authors)

  • Mayorov, D. A., Tereshatov, E. E., Werke, T. A., Frey, M. M., & Folden, C.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • Mayorov, DA||Tereshatov, EE||Werke, TA||Frey, MM||Folden, CMIII

publication date

  • September 2017