The project aims to study the effect of irradiation with 20 MeV electrons and 1.25 MeV gamma rays of advanced materials, such as GaAs:Cr, YBa2Cu3O7 and MWCNT, using Raman spectroscopy measurements taken before and after exposure to radiation. The work will require a detailed search of published literature on the subject, and the deconvolution mathematical processing of the Raman spectra. The intercomparative analysis of the obtained spectra will allow to reach conclusions about the structural processes that have taken place in the samples stimulated by irradiation.

Tasks

- Study of the Raman Spectroscopy fundamentals.
- Study of the selected target general properties: GaAs:Cr, YBa2Cu3O7 or MWCNT.
- Analysis of the irradiation experiments in the linear electron accelerator LINAC-800 and in the therapeutic gamma camera РОКУЕМ.
- Calculation of the effective depth for the Raman effect measurement in the target material.
- Preliminary analysis of the obtained Raman spectra.
- Deconvolution of the Raman spectra.
- Analysis and interpretation of the deconvoluted spectra.
- Preparation of final report.

Preliminary schedule by topics/tasks

The expected project duration is 5-6 weeks.
The work schedule will follow the order of the tasks indicated above, admitting the student initiative. The first two weeks will be introductory, followed by three weeks dedicated to the processing and analysis of Raman spectra, leaving the last week for the report preparation. The final schedule will be agreed directly with the student.

Required skills

General Physics, courses on Nuclear and Solid State Physics.
Experience in the search for bibliographic information and its appropriate processing.
Some experience in working with data processing software.
Satisfactory communication in English, Russian or Spanish language.

Acquired skills and experience

Understanding of the Raman Spectroscopy fundamentals.
Familiarization with the properties of some advanced materials and their applications.
Application of mathematical methods for spectra deconvolution.
Experience in the use of Raman Spectroscopy applied to the study of radiation damage in solid materials of technological and scientific interest.
Increased knowledge in the use of Office Excel and OriginPro software programs for processing and presentation of the experimental results.
Acquired experience in the preparation and defense of scientific work reports.

Recommended literature

- C-K Chris Wang, Atoms, Nuclei, and Interactions of Ionizing Radiation with Matter, (First Edition), Cognella Academic Publishing, (2016).
- https://mcnp.lanl.gov/
- Briesmeister J. F. MCNPTM - A General Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code. Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, (2000).
- Ferraro J. R., Nakamoto K. and Brown C. W. Introductory Raman Spectroscopy. 2da edición. Academic Press, (2003).
- Weber W. H. and Merlin R. Raman Scattering in Materials Science. Springer-Verlag (2000).
https://www.originlab.com/index.aspx?go=Products/Origin/DataAnalysis/PeakAnalysis#Peak_Fitting_PRO