XANES AND ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY STUDIES ON PRE- AND POST-IRRADIATED SAPPHIRE

XANES measurements at the Fe - K edge on natural South African sapphire single crystal (corundum) and an irradiated sample with fluence 1 × 1012 Ni 6+ ions/cm 2 are reported. Some decrease in intensity of pre-edge features (1s → 3d) and increase in intensity of 1s → 4p transition in Fe is observed with Ni fluence. Structural changes and modification on surface of irradiated sapphire with Ni 6+ ion have been observed by the atomic force microscopy technique and discussed in the term of defects.