Cascade mechanism of nucleation of vacancy loops and stacking fault tetrahedra in metals under irradiation

The kinetics of nucleation of cascades of vacancy loops and stacking fault tetrahedra in denuded zones is investigated by computer simulation at the lattice level with the use of the long-range first-principles atomic interaction potential in copper. It is shown that the type of vacancy cluster that is nucleated depends on the mean volume concentration of vacancies in denuded zones. On the basis of the results, an explanation is put forward for experimental results on the temperature dependence of the microstructure of irradiated copper at temperatures ≲600 K.