Neutron irradiation effects on the structural properties of KU1, KS-4V and I301 silica glasses

In this work we have studied the effects of high neutron fluencies and gamma doses on the structural properties of three different types of silica glasses: two high purity silica with different OH content, KU1 (800 ppm) and KS-4V (<;0.2 ppm); and a commercial silica Infrasil 301 (<;8 ppm). The experimental results (Raman and FTIR spectra) have been compared with ab-initio simulations and show that, while the changes on the structure of the gamma irradiated silica are not significant, the structural changes due to neutron irradiation result in an increase of the number of strained bonds responsible of the formation of new defects which alter the optical properties of the glasses.