Real-time optical monitoring of mesoscale thermo-mechanical performance of nuclear ceramics during ion beam irradiation

Collaborative Research Program for 2025-2027

Proposed research pursues the development and use of laser-based transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) technique for ex-situ and in-situ simultaneous real-time measurement of mesoscale thermo-mechanical properties of nuclear ceramics during their ion beam irradiation at the high energy ion accelerator. We aim to tie mesoscale monitoring of heat transport and elastic properties with multi-scale study of the microstructure evolution during electronic and nuclear ion energy dissipation to reach prognostic fundamental understanding of nuclear structural ceramics performance in the harsh radioactive environment of next-generation advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors. To reach this ultimate objective we will design and construct the TGS instrument at the ion beam line of DC-60 high energy ion accelerator in Astana, Kazakhstan to conduct in-situ monitoring of thermal thermal diffusivity and surface acoustic wave (SAW) velocity in nuclear carbide, oxide and nitride ceramics during their continuous irradiation by high energy ion beams.