Irradiation of materials usually leads to the formation of defects, which need to be identified in order to assess the radiation resistance of materials. Irradiation can also be used to shape materials for a wide range of technological applications.
Finally, radiation studies can also be used to simulate the accelerated ageing of nuclear materials, ceramics or steels, or materials used in new energy technologies (batteries, membranes, electrolytes, electrodes, photovoltaic cells, etc.), in order to predict component lifetimes.
Research at IRAMIS focuses in particular on the following areas:
- New concepts for neutron production and scattering
- Relaxation of irradiated matter: fundamental mechanisms of collision, damage, fragmentation of matter, radiolysis
- Irradiation, corrosion, aging, heritage materials
- Controlled nanostructuring using ion or electron beams
Environmental studies using ion beams
IRAMIS’ ion beam irradiation and on-line study stations are open to national and international communities, and a number of collaborative studies are carried out to characterize natural materials, such as volcanic rocks or comet elements (NIMBE LEEL team).
In addition, we can also analyze the reactivity of small molecules or aggregates under ionic bombardment, in order to understand the evolution of matter in the upper layers of the atmosphere or in interstellar space (CIMAP’s AMA team).
Find out more about the research activities of the IRAMIS Research Units.