Experimental determination of the damaging effect of 22Ne ions (172 MeV) on UO2 single crystals

The shadow effect is used to examine the damage in UO2 single crystals. The dependence of the parameters of the shadow minima on the fluence of 22Ne ions with an energy of 172 MeV was determined in recording the fission fragments. The ion dose causing extensive microdamage in the structure of the lattice was determined. The effect of radiation intensity on the nature of resultant damage was examined. The results show that in addition to microdamage in the structure of the lattice, ion flux densities of > 1012 cm-2s-1 cause macroscopic failure of the specimens caused by generation of high mechanical stresses in the single crystals under the effect of the beam. (author)