RADIATION EFFECTS IN PLZT AND PSN CERAMICS

Comprehensive studies of radiation effects on the optical and dielectric properties of PLZT X/65/35 and PSN ceramics have been made. The samples have been exposed to gamma, electron and reactor neutron irradiation. With regard to the optical properties, a maximum in the absorption difference with respect to the pre-irradiated state, appears in samples of PLZT 8-11/65/35 at wavelength of 380 nm, irrespective of the type of radiation. With regard to dielectric properties, the radiation-induced effects have been found to be strongly dependent on the sample composition, especially their La-content as well on the state of polarization of the sample during irradiation. Those samples, which are characterized by a slim hysteresis loop, show linear correlations between the 380 nm-maximum of the optical density difference, which is presumably proportional to the defect concentration, and the change of polarization in the neutron-irradiated state.