Verification of the theory of primary radiation damage by comparison with experimental data

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2019-11, Vol.525, p.22-31
• Main Authors: Ogorodnikova, O.V., Majerle, M., Gann, V.V., Čížek, J., Hruška, P., Simakov, S., Štefánik, M., Zach, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Construction materials; Crystal defects; Damage initiation; Defects; Electron microscopy; Experimental data; Exposure; Fusion reactors; Iron; Irradiation effects; Material properties; Mechanical properties; Metals; Microstructure; Neutrons; Nuclear fission; Nuclear fusion; Nuclear fusion reactors; Nuclear reactors; Physics; Positron annihilation spectroscopy; Proton irradiation; Protons; Radiation; Radiation damage; Radiation effects; Reactors; Recombination; Solid state physics; Spectroscopy; Tungsten
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2019.07.019

Understanding of radiation damage in a solid is important for development of advanced material technologies, namely, for space application, electron microscopy, semiconductor processing, fission and nuclear fusion. Space materials must withstand exposure to high-energy protons. Construction materials of future thermonuclear reactors must withstand exposure to high-energy neutrons. Many properties of materials including mechanical properties are governed by the presence and behavior of lattice defects. Hence, the study of the radiation-induced defects is an important task combining two fields: radiation physics and solid state physics. The paper presents new knowledge on primary defect formation in the main materials for advanced fission and nuclear fusion reactors, bcc tungsten (W) and bcc iron (Fe). The objective of this work is to compare the new experimental data of neutron- and proton-induced defects in W and Fe using well-established method of positron-annihilation lifetime-spectroscopy (PALS) in combination with the literature data with two models of radiation damage, the classical Norgett-Robinson-Torrens (NRT-dpa) model and recently developed athermal recombination corrected (arc-dpa) model. It is shown that experimental data for neutron- and proton-irradiated Fe are better described by arc-dpa model than NRT-dpa model. Whereas experimental data for neutron- and proton-irradiated W are between the NRT-dpa and arc-dpa predictions. The obtained results shed new light on the formation of the primary radiation defects in materials and indicate the need for further development of the theory of radiation damage in a solid.