Swift ion beam irradiation on lithium niobate single crystals

Abstract

Single crystals of lithium niobate were irradiated by 50 MeV Li³⁺ion irradiation at various ion fluences. The irradiated single crystals were subjected to various studies such as X-ray diffractometry, UV–VIS–NIR analysis and refractive index measurements. Atomic force microscopy patterns were recorded to study the surface changes after irradiation. Micro-Raman measurements were also recorded for irradiated specimens and the result of the measurements are discussed in detail.

Keywords:

• lithium ion irradiation
• X-ray diffraction
• micro-Raman spectrum
• UV–VIS–NIR spectra
• AFM

Acknowledgements

The author Dr S. Gokul Raj wishes to thank the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, for the award of Young Scientist under the Fast Track Proposal Scheme (SR/FTP/PS-10/2007). The author Dr G. Ramesh Kumar is grateful to the Director, IUAC, New Delhi, for providing the ion irradiation facility under the Beam Time Request (BTR) scheme.