Neutron irradiation of SiO2 samples for Fusion optical and dielectric applications

• Diagnostic insulators in fusion reactors will receive important neutron and gamma damage • We tested the radiation effects on optical and dielectric properties of amorphous silica up to 10 25 n/m 2 . • UV Optical transmission is rapidly degraded but reach a plateau and recover at high dose • The same behaviour has been observed for dielectric loss at high frequencies. • It is a key result for future fusion reactor design