Latent track formation in LiNbO3 single crystals irradiated by GeV uranium ions

Single crystals of LiNbO 3 (Y-cut orientation) have been irradiated at GANIL with 238 U ions using three different energies: 0.84, 2.01 and 2.73 MeV/a. All the irradiations were performed at room temperature, up to a fluence of 4 × 10 11 ions.cm −2. The lattice disorder resulting from the high electronic stopping power (between 28 and 40 keV/nm) has been characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in channeling geometry (RBS-C), in conjunction with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). According to RBS-C analysis, the damage cross-section depends on the electronic stopping power of the incident ions and a velocity effect is observed. HRTEM observations show a damage morphology consisting mainly of cylindric amorphous zones (latent tracks) having a mean core radius of about 2 nm.