Induced defects in insulators

This symposium covered many aspects of the interaction of radiation with insulating materials. A new field with an increasing interest is the study of the distribution of light ions and foil destruction after implantation of organic polymers. The processes related to plasma erosion of non-metal first wall materials in fusion devices were reviewed and their relative importance was assessed, particularly for the problems connected with plasma contamination and mechanical effects of thermal stresses. It was also clear that radiation damage investigations in insulators assume a central role in nuclear waste management, because glass is a serious candidate material for waste disposal. A number of papers demonstrated the growing interest in opto-electronic materials for data processing, radiation effects in glass fiber cables, and electron-beam irradiation of electronic devices. Several contributions were given on analysis techniques in insulators emphasizing potential applications for defect characterization. Some papers presented showed how laboratory simulations provide information on organic molecules in interstellar solids and on the potential abiotic formation of biomolecules in space