Title: Coulomb explosion and steadiness of high-radioactive silicate glasses
Authors: V.Zhydkov (Institute for NPP Safety Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kirova 36A, 07270, Chornobyl, Ukraine)

The paper is devoted to the theoretical study of Coulomb explosion in silicate glasses with low ionization potential under internal alpha-irradiation. The phenomenon was studied in the way of computer simulation, namely by the molecular dynamics (MD) method; parameters of the so-called lava-like fuel-containing materials (LFCM), were chosen as input parameters for the model due to its practical importance. LFCM are high-radioactive glasses, which were formed during an active stage of a well known heavy nuclear accident, occurred on Chornobyl NPP in 1986. Computer simulation revealed that Coulomb explosion really may occur in the LFCMs and leads to additional radiation damages under internal alpha-irradiation. The total quantity of atomic displacements produced in the way of Coulomb explosion from each alpha-particle track is 40000 to 80000, which exceeds radiation damages from alpha-particle and heavy recoil nuclei altogether (about 3500) more than one order.

Key words: Coulomb explosion, molecular dynamics, radioactive glasses
PACS: 34.50.Fa, 34.90.+q, 72.90.+y