Atransient liquid-like phase in the displacement cascades of zircon, hafnon and thorite

The study of radiation effects in solids is important for thedevelopment of ‘radiation-resistant’ materials for fission-reactorapplications1. The effects of heavy-ion irradiation in the isostructuralorthosilicates zircon (ZrSiO4), hafnon (HfSiO4) and thorite(ThSiO4) are particularly important because these minerals areunder active investigation for..