Note: Establishing α-particle radiation damage experiments using the Dalton Cumbrian Facility's 5 MV tandem pelletron.
Evaluating the radiation stability of mineral phases is a vital research challenge when assessing the performance of the materials employed in a Geological Disposal Facility for radioactive waste. This report outlines the setup and methodology for efficiently allowing the determination of the dose dependence of damage to a mineral from a single ion irradiated sample. The technique has been deployed using the Dalton Cumbrian Facility's 5 MV tandem pelletron to irradiate a suite of minerals with a controlled α-particle ((4)He(2+)) beam. Such minerals are proxies for near-field clay based buffer material surrounding radioactive canisters, as well as the sorbent components of the host rock.
Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
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Bower
Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, University of Manchester, Cumbria CA24 3HA, United Kingdom.
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Smith
Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
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Pattrick
Dalton Cumbrian Facility, Westlakes Science and Technology Park, University of Manchester, Cumbria CA24 3HA, United Kingdom.
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Pimblott