Reactor Laboratory
DiFi Laboratory
Laboratory directed by: Dr. Simone Agnello

In this laboratory a reactor is used to treat silica samples in controlled atmospheres at high temperatures. A great number of processes involving point defects in silica are nowadays thought to be related to the presence of small molecules, as hydrogen, oxygen or water, in the glass matrix. As an example, a well-probed technique to improve the radiation hardness of the material is the introduction of hydrogen (hydrogen loading), that can saturate dangling Si or O bonds and reduces the concentration of defect precursor sites. Moreover it is widely accepted that the microscopic processes taking place during the thermal treatments of materials and devices, that make the defects disappear, are due to the reaction of the centres with molecules diffusing through the silica matrix.  The main technical features of the reactor are reported below.

This laboratory is integrated in MeSIAM - Regional Laboratory of CNISM