Effect of stress and irradiation fluence on latent track formation in swift heavy ion irradiation: A case study on TiO2

Swift Heavy Ions (SHI) irradiation, characterized by high kinetic energy ions, induces significant material/structural modification, e.g., latent track. However, the intricate interaction among various physics , i.e., mechanical stress, phase transition, and heat transfer, has been ignored in the continuum-based approaches in favor of simplicity. Here, we developed a two-dimensional coupled phase-field inelastic-thermal spike (PF-iTS) model to investigate the effect of thermal cross-talk, elastic energy, and irradiation fluence on latent track formation and size. The results reveal a shift in the critical electronic stopping energy and a reduced track radius under mechanical stress. Additionally, the study demonstrates the impact of thermal cross-talk between incidents, i.e., simultaneous and delayed double ion impacts , showing potential track merging and variations in track morphology. • Development of a two-dimensional coupled phase-field inelastic-thermal spike (PF-i-TS) model for SHI-induced damage. • Investigate the interplay between mechanical stress and SHI-induced damage. • Shift in the critical electronic stopping energy and a reduced track radius when considering mechanical stress. • Investigation into the effect of thermal crosstalk between incidents, highlighting its role in both simultaneous and delayed double ion impacts. • Demonstration of potential track merging and variations in track morphology due to thermal crosstalk.