M A Ahlam and A P Gnana Prakash

ABSTRACT

Single crystal of nonlinear optical (NLO) L-alanine cadmium chloride (LACC) was grown by slow evaporation method at room temperature. The grown crystals were irradiated by 95 MeV oxygen ions and Co-60 gamma radiation at doses of 1 Mrad and 6 Mrad. The structural, chemical, dielectric properties, AC and DC conductivity, refractive index (RI) and second harmonic generation (SHG) of the crystals were studied before and after irradiation. The slight change in the lattice parameters was observed due to compressive strain field generated in the irradiated crystals. There is no significant formation of intermediate chemically distinct material after ion and gamma irradiation. The observed increase in dielectric constant was found to be more for Co-60 gamma irradiated crystals than 95 MeV oxygen ions irradiated crystals. The AC and DC conductivity were found to increase after irradiation. A considerable change in the values of RI was observed for both ion and gamma irradiated crystals. The SHG efficiency of LACC crystals was found to decrease with increase in radiation dose. Keywords: Ion irradiation, gamma irradiation, nonlinear optical, irradiation effect, SHG.