  Oxide Y2.5Nd0.5Al5O12 (YAG:Nd) with garnet structure was synthesized in the
powder and ceramics forms. Fine-grained YAG:Nd ceramics with a relative density
of ~99% were obtained by the Spark Plasma Sintering method (SPS). The radiation
resistance of ceramics was studied under irradiation with swift Xe-ions (E =
146 MeV). A gradient defect structure is formed in irradiated ceramics, varying
from layer to layer. The strained YAG phase formed as a result of Xe ions
irradiation is localized in a near-surface layer with a thickness of ~5 {\mu}m.
Full amorphization of the samples was observed under irradiation with a fluence
of 1x10^13 cm-2. The calculated critical fluence was 6.5x10^12 cm-2, which
corresponded to 0.03 dpa. The microhardness of the surface layers of irradiated
ceramics is less than the central layers, and, in general, decreases with
increasing ion fluence.
