Characterization of cascade-induced defect production by microstructural analysis based on rate theory modeling

The characteristics of defect production and effective flux of freely migrating point defects under cascade damage conditions are among the key issues to assess the materials behavior under fusion environment by mechanistic modeling. In this paper, using a rate theory model of point defect and cluster evolution combined with results from molecular dynamics simulations, issues on characterizing cascade-induced defect production by microstructural analysis are discussed. In particular, determination of cascade vacancy cluster configuration, surviving defect production efficiency and cascade-interaction volume is attempted by analyzing temperature dependence of swelling rate and loop growth rate in austenitic steels and model alloys.