Journal Article

PUBDB-2026-00140

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Radiation-Induced Disorder and Lattice Relaxation in Gd$_3$Ga$_5$O$_{12}$ Under Swift Xe Ion Irradiation

Karipbayev, Z. T. ; Aralbayeva, G. (Corresponding author)Extern* ; Zhalgas, A. T. ; Burkanova, K.Extern* ; Zhunusbekov, A. M. ; Manika, I. ; Akilbekov, A. ; Bakytkyzy, A. ; Ubizskii, S. ; Sagyndykova, G. E. ; Konuhova, M. ; Sarakovskis, A. ; Smortsova, Y.DESY* ; Popov, A. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2025
MDPI Basel

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3390/cryst15121065  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2026-00140

Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive Raman spectroscopic and mechanical investigation of Gd$_3$Ga$_5$O$_{12}$ (GGG) single crystals irradiated with 231 MeV 131Xe ions at fluences ranging from 1 × 10$^{11}$ to 3.3 × 10$^{13}$ ions/cm$^2$. Raman analysis reveals that all fundamental vibrational modes of the garnet structure remain observable up to the highest fluence, with the preservation of garnet crystalline topology/absence of secondary crystalline phases. However, significant line broadening (FWHM increase by 20–100%) and low-frequency shifts indicate progressive lattice disorder and phonon-defect scattering. High-frequency Ga-O stretching modes (A$_{1g}$, T$_{2g}$ ~740 cm$^{−1}$) remain the most resistant to irradiation, while low-energy translational modes involving Gd$^{3+}$ ions exhibit pronounced degradation and partial disappearance at high fluence. Complementary nanoindentation measurements show radiation-induced softening: hardness decreases by up to ≈60% at 3.3 × 1013 ions/cm$^2$, consistent with amorphization and overlapping ion tracks (~10–12 μm deep). Raman spectroscopy shows that the garnet lattice remains as the only crystalline phase up to 3.3 × 10$^{13}$ ions/cm$^2$, while significant line broadening, mode suppression and a strong hardness decrease indicate progressive structural disorder and partial amorphization of the near-surface region. These results demonstrate that GGG maintains crystalline integrity below the track-overlap threshold (~6 keV/nm) but undergoes strong structural relaxation and mechanical weakening once this limit is exceeded. A new analytical methodology has been developed to quantify radiation-induced structural degradation.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. PETRA-S (FS-PETRA-S)

Research Program(s):

1. 632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional Materials (POF4-632) (POF4-632)

Experiment(s):

1. No specific instrument

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