Irradiation effects on the structure, properties and phase transition in PLZT and PSN ferroelectric ceramics

Abstract

PLZT and PSN transparent ferroelectric ceramics have been subjected to γ-irradiation (energy ≈ 1;15 MeV; power of the dose 1050 r/s; doses up to 3 × 109 rad), electron irradiation (energy ≈ 4.5 MeV; power of the dose ≈ 1012 electr./cm2 · s: doses up to 1018 electr./cm2) and direct irradiation in a thermal reactor channel (neutron energy ≥ 0.1 MeV; flow density from 1.8 × 1011 to 2.4 × 1012 n/cm2 s: the dose up to 1018 n/cm2).Results of complex X-ray, dielectric, and optical studies of the irradiated ceramics are interpreted in terms of radiation-induced defect interaction with the real structure defects of the initial material taking into account the chemical and phase constitution, as well as the defectness and ordering of structural elements at different levels of the latter.