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Title: Standardization of accelerator irradiation procedures for simulation of neutron induced damage in reactor structural materials

Journal Article · · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

Self-ion irradiation is widely used as a method to simulate neutron damage in reactor structural materials. Accelerator-based simulation of void swelling, however, introduces a number of neutron-atypical features which require careful data extraction and in some cases introduction of innovative irradiation techniques to alleviate these issues. We briefly summarize three such atypical features: defect imbalance effects, pulsed beam effects, and carbon contamination. The latter issue has just been recently recognized as being relevant to simulation of void swelling and is discussed here in greater detail. It is shown that carbon ions are entrained in the ion beam by Coulomb force drag and accelerated toward the target surface. Beam-contaminant interactions are modeled using molecular dynamics simulation. By applying a multiple beam deflection technique, carbon and other contaminants can be effectively filtered out, as demonstrated in an irradiation of HT-9 alloy by 3.5 MeV Fe ions.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1415698
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-126514; 49582; AF5810000
Journal Information:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 409, Issue C; ISSN 0168-583X
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (5)

Magnetic Properties of Proton Irradiated Mn3Si2Te6 van der Waals Single Crystals journal January 2019
Carbon Contamination During Ion Irradiation - Accurate Detection and Characterization of its Effect on Microstructure of Ferritic/Martensitic Steels journal November 2017
Effect of Helium on Dispersoid Evolution under Self-Ion Irradiation in A Dual-Phase 12Cr Oxide-Dispersion-Strengthened Alloy journal October 2019
The Effect of Internal Free Surfaces on Void Swelling of Irradiated Pure Iron Containing Subsurface Trenches journal May 2019
Magnetic Properties of Proton Irradiated Fe2.7GeTe2 Bulk Crystals journal January 2019