I recently published my newest work on ‘Rapid detection of dimensional instabilities in ion-irradiated uranium mononitride‘.

Abstract: Quantifying irradiation-induced dimensional changes typically requires destructive preparation or specialized instrumentation. This work presents a non-destructive method using scanning electron microscopy and feature-referenced regression analysis to determine strain from implantation micrographs. Multiple imaging modes establish a detection limit of 0.6 % linear strain. Application on uranium mononitride reveals 10 % volumetric swelling following Ba implantation, 6 % shrinkage after Zr implantation, enhanced contraction in Zr-Ba co-implanted regions, and negligible strain for Xe and Kr implantations. The results demonstrate a rapid, accessible method for surface-sensitive quantification of strain and provide new insight into dimensional stability of uranium mononitride under ion irradiation.

Read the paper here: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2026.117400