Simulation of alpha decay of actinides in iron phosphate glasses by ion irradiation

• Alpha decay of actinides in iron phosphate glasses is simulated by employing ion irradiation technique.
• FTIR and Raman spectroscopic measurements confirm modification of glass network.
• The depolymerisation of glass network after irradiation is attributed to synergetic effect of nuclear and electronic losses.

A surrogate approach of ion beam irradiation is employed to simulate alpha decay of actinides in iron phosphate nuclear waste glasses. Bismuth and helium ions of different energies have been selected for simulating glass matrix modification owing to radiolysis and ballistic damage due to recoil atoms. Structural modification and change in coordination number of network former were probed by employing Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopies as a consequence of ion irradiation. Depolymerisation is observed in glass sample irradiated at intermediate energy of 2 MeV. Helium blisters of micron size are seen in glass sample irradiated at low helium ion energy of 30 keV.