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Title: In situ TEM observation of alpha-particle induced annealing of radiation damage in Durango apatite

Abstract

A major issue in thermochronology and U-Th-Pb dating is the effect of radiation damage, created by α-recoils from α-decay events, on the diffusion of radiogenic elements (e.g., He and Pb) in host mineral. Up until now, thermal events have been considered as the only source of energy for the recovery of radiation-damage. However, irradiation, such as from the α-particle of the α-decay event, can itself induce damage recovery. Quantification of radiation-induced recovery caused by α-particles during α-decay events has not been possible, as the recovery process at the atomic-scale has been difficult to observe. Here we present details of the dynamics of the amorphous-to-crystalline transition process during α-particle irradiations using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and consecutive ion-irradiations: 1 MeV Kr2+ (simulating α-recoil damage), followed by 400 keV He+ (simulating α-particle annealing). Upon the He+ irradiation, partial recrystallization of the original, fully-amorphous Durango apatite was clearly evident and quantified based on the gradual appearance of new crystalline domains in TEM images and new diffraction maxima in selected area electron diffraction patterns. Thus, α-particle induced annealing occurs and must be considered in models of α-decay event damage and its effect on the diffusion of radiogenic elements in geochronology and thermochronology.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (China)
  2. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
University of Notre Dame, IN (United States); U. Chicago Argonne, LLC, Chicago, IL (United States); Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Materials Science of Actinides (MSA)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1500048
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0001089; AC02-06CH11357
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Scientific Reports
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 7; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES

Citation Formats

Li, Weixing, Shen, Yahui, Zhou, Yueqing, Nan, Shuai, Chen, Chien-Hung, and Ewing, Rodney C. In situ TEM observation of alpha-particle induced annealing of radiation damage in Durango apatite. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-14379-9.
Li, Weixing, Shen, Yahui, Zhou, Yueqing, Nan, Shuai, Chen, Chien-Hung, & Ewing, Rodney C. In situ TEM observation of alpha-particle induced annealing of radiation damage in Durango apatite. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14379-9
Li, Weixing, Shen, Yahui, Zhou, Yueqing, Nan, Shuai, Chen, Chien-Hung, and Ewing, Rodney C. Thu . "In situ TEM observation of alpha-particle induced annealing of radiation damage in Durango apatite". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14379-9. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1500048.
@article{osti_1500048,
title = {In situ TEM observation of alpha-particle induced annealing of radiation damage in Durango apatite},
author = {Li, Weixing and Shen, Yahui and Zhou, Yueqing and Nan, Shuai and Chen, Chien-Hung and Ewing, Rodney C.},
abstractNote = {A major issue in thermochronology and U-Th-Pb dating is the effect of radiation damage, created by α-recoils from α-decay events, on the diffusion of radiogenic elements (e.g., He and Pb) in host mineral. Up until now, thermal events have been considered as the only source of energy for the recovery of radiation-damage. However, irradiation, such as from the α-particle of the α-decay event, can itself induce damage recovery. Quantification of radiation-induced recovery caused by α-particles during α-decay events has not been possible, as the recovery process at the atomic-scale has been difficult to observe. Here we present details of the dynamics of the amorphous-to-crystalline transition process during α-particle irradiations using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and consecutive ion-irradiations: 1 MeV Kr2+ (simulating α-recoil damage), followed by 400 keV He+ (simulating α-particle annealing). Upon the He+ irradiation, partial recrystallization of the original, fully-amorphous Durango apatite was clearly evident and quantified based on the gradual appearance of new crystalline domains in TEM images and new diffraction maxima in selected area electron diffraction patterns. Thus, α-particle induced annealing occurs and must be considered in models of α-decay event damage and its effect on the diffusion of radiogenic elements in geochronology and thermochronology.},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-14379-9},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
number = 1,
volume = 7,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Cited by: 14 works
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Figures / Tables:

Figure 1 Figure 1: Stopping Power. The electronic and nuclear stopping powers, dE/dx, as a function of target depth, x, for the irradiations of 70 keV Th (α-recoil), 4.5 MeV He (α-particle), 1 MeV Kr (simulating α-recoil damage) and 400 keV He (simulating α-particle annealing), respectively. The TEM sample thickness (70 nm),more » for Kr and He ion-irradiation experiments, is marked by blue boxes.« less

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  • Nasdala, Lutz; Akhmadaliev, Shavkat; Artac, Andreas
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  • McDannell, Kalin T.; Issler, Dale R.; O'Sullivan, Paul B.
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