Inhomogeneous nucleation and growth in irradiated materials

The presence of planar sinks for mobile point defects in irradiated materials is shown to give rise to an unusual type of competition between the nucleation and growth of defect clusters and mesoscopic cavities. Numerical solutions of non-linear diffusion equations describing the binary field of mobile vacancies and interstitial atoms show the formation of a characteristic profile of inhomogeneous swelling that exhibits features similar to those observed experimentally. (author)Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:9091.900(UKAEA-FUS-424) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo