{"id":2139,"date":"2026-03-10T13:18:56","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T18:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/quanta\/?page_id=2139"},"modified":"2026-03-20T15:33:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:33:52","slug":"radiation-research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/quanta\/research\/radiation-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Radiation Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our lab has significantly advanced the understanding of radiation-material interactions in MEMS and NEMS. The lab has examined how gamma rays, protons, heavy ions, and ion-induced displacement damage affects the structural integrity and resonant performance of advanced materials and devices. Ion induced displacement damage and heavy ion irradiation have the potential to influence MEMS resonators\u2019 frequency stability, quality factor, and defect formation. Specifically, the lab demonstrated how gamma rays influences resonators of several materials: molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum nitride (AlN), and silicon carbide (SiC) nano mechanical resonators are among the list of materials tested.\u202f <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Featured Publications:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Study of Radiation Effects in Emerging Micro and Nanoelectromechanical Systems (MEMS and NEMS)<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our lab collaborated on this comprehensive review paper surveying radiation effects across a wide variety of emerging MEMS and NEMS devices and materials. We contributed to covering how different radiation types (gamma, proton, heavy ion, neutron) affect device properties such as resonant frequency, quality factor, and structural integrity across materials including <\/span>SiC<\/span>, <\/span>GaN<\/span>, graphene, MoS\u2082, and <\/span>piezoelectric<\/span>. Together with our collaborators, we <\/span>identified<\/span> key open research questions and positioned M\/<\/span>NEMS<\/span> radiation hardness as a critical concern for deployment in space, nuclear, and <\/span>defence<\/span> environments.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In-Situ Measurement of 1.8MeV Proton Radiation Effects on Comb-Drive MEMS Resonators<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our lab performed real-time, in situ measurements of 1.8-MeV proton irradiation effects on silicon comb-drive MEMS resonators, capturing how resonant frequency and other parameters evolve\u00a0<\/span><\/span>during<\/span><\/span>\u00a0live irradiation rather than only before and after. This in situ approach allowed us to distinguish transient effects from permanent displacement damage, providing a more complete picture of how proton radiation degrades resonator performance. Our results have direct implications for understanding MEMS reliability in proton-rich space radiation environments and for developing testing methodologies for radiation qualification.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

References:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n