Effects of Radiation Damage on the Optical Properties of Glass

TL;DR

This study investigates how ionizing radiation affects the optical properties of various glass types, providing data crucial for space applications and extending the list of space-qualified glasses.

Contribution

It offers new experimental data on radiation-induced changes in optical properties of 24 glass types, including both space-qualified and non-qualified glasses, under simulated space radiation doses.

Findings

Radiation causes measurable changes in spectral transmission and scattering.

Dopant and composition influence radiation damage effects.

Method for estimating real-world radiation doses from proton beam experiments.

Abstract

We study the optical properties of glass exposed to ionizing radiation, as it occurs in the space environment. 24 glass types have been considered, both space qualified and not space qualified. 72 samples (3 for each glass type) have been irradiated to simulate a total dose of 10krad and 30krad, imposed by a proton beam at KVI-Centre of Advanced Radiation Technology (Groeningen). Combining the information about stopping power and proton fluence, the time required to reproduce any given total dose in the real environment can be easily obtained. The optical properties, such as spectral transmission and light scattering have been measured before and after irradiation for each sample. Transmission has been characterized within the wavelength range 200 nm-1100 nm. Indications that systematical issues depend on the dopant or composition are found and described. This work aims at extending the existing list of space-compliant glasses in terms of radiation damage.