Date of Award
5-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Luiz G. Jacobsohn
Committee Member
Dr. Rajendra Bordia
Committee Member
Dr. Ming Tang
Abstract
The near-Earth space radiation environment is a complex system that creates a harmful environment for materials to operate in. Motivated by the search for using optical defects as an indicator of radiation damage, five single-crystal functional ceramic materials were selected to undergo ion irradiation at conditions found in the near-Earth space environment. Due to the complex nature of ion irradiation effects in ceramic materials, a host of calculations and experimental characterization methods were used. Calculations using the 2013 SRIM code were used to evaluate the ion projected range and the type and number of defects (vacancies) created by ion irradiation. Structural characterization by Raman spectroscopy was combined with results from UV-visible spectroscopy, radioluminescence, and thermoluminescence to determine changes induced by ion irradiation. This work revealed that the structure and optical properties are sensitive to ion irradiation and can be experimentally characterized by the methods used.
Recommended Citation
Sands, William J., "Near-Earth Ion Irradiation Effects on Functional Ceramic Materials: A Combined Experimental-Monte Carlo Approach" (2022). All Theses. 3754.
https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/3754