Irradiation Effect on Ta<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> Thin Films

Abstract

Long-term effects of time-dependent solarization behavior on optical density and optical band gap of the gamma and beta irradiated Ta2O5 thin films were investigated to examine the optical aging of films at different absorbed dose levels. Irradiation process caused to induce defect centres. The population inversion of the colour centres was increased by controlling the absorbed dose at certain radiation dose levels. The efficient absorption of photons in tantalum reduced transmittance. The grain boundaries of the Ta2O5 thin film decreased at the end of irradiation process. The average grain boundaries changed after the irradiation process at 4.5 kGy and average grain boundaries decreased from ~ 11.5 to 5.5 μm. The optical fading behavior of induced color centers addressed to the potential opportunities of Ta2O5 thin film by monitoring absorption of photons in optoelectronic technology. Optical fading of the Ta2O5 thin film presented an importance to investigate the material stored ionizing radiation dose in it with the increase of elapsed time after the irradiation treatment.