Abstract
He+ion implantation on albite (Minas Gerais, Brazil) at 4.0 MeV, corresponding to the energy of α particle from 238U fission, has been conducted to clarify the radiation effects of ? particles from radioactive minerals on cathodoluminescence (CL) of albite. CL of albite results in various emission bands at ∼380, ∼560, and ∼740 nm, and in the UV range. Red emission at 700-750 nm is detected in the CL spectra of the implanted samples. Total CL intensities of these UV, blue, yellow, red, and IR emissions vary among the samples. High-resolution CL imaging of the cross-section samples shows a CL halo on the implanted surface of approximately 14 μm thickness, which is consistent with a theoretical range of ? particles of 4.0 MeV. It was first confirmed experimentally that the CL halo is created by ? particles. The deconvolution of CL spectra in the red emission range by Gaussian fitting provides the component at 1.861 eV that is attributed to a radiation-induced defect center produced by He+ ion implantation. The intensity of the component at 1.861 eV linearly correlates with the dose density of He + implantation on albite as a function of the population of the radiation-induced defect center, regardless of other factors such as concentration and distribution of other emission centers, existence of microstructures and textures, and crystallographic orientation. The CL spectral deconvolution has a high potential for quantitative evaluation of the radiation dose of α particles from natural radionuclides on albite for a geodosimetry.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1238-1247 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | American Mineralogist |
Volume | 96 |
Issue number | 8-9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Keywords
- Albite
- Cathodoluminescence
- Cathodoluminescence halo
- Cathodoluminescence spectral deconvolution
- Radiation-induced defect center
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Geochemistry and Petrology