MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF IRRADIATED CERAMICS

Abstract

The interaction of charged particles such as electrons and ions, with matter is based on both Coulomb interactions and elastic collisions. At high initial particle velocities, a large amount of energy is spent in the excitation of electrons bound to lattice atoms in non-metals. As the particle slows down, the energy communicated to such electrons becomes less important and before it comes to rest, elastic collisions with lattice atoms are dominant.