Crystals were bombarded with Au, Pb, Bi and S ions having energies ranging from 400 to 2300MeV, and were studied by means of Vickers micro-indentation. Marked hardening effects were observed which depended upon the fluence and ion species used, and which were related to the ion energy-loss along the ion path. Structural investigations revealed irradiation-induced stresses which extended deeply into the adjacent non-irradiated crystal and led to the formation of dislocations. A decrease in the lattice constant was revealed by X-ray diffraction measurements of the irradiated crystals; thus indicating the presence of internal stresses.

Hardening and Long-Range Stress Formation in Lithium Fluoride Induced by Energetic Ions. I.Manika, J.Maniks, K.Schwartz, M.Toulemonde, C.Trautmann: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2003, 209, 93-7