A STUDY OF STAGE II AND III RECOVERY IN NEUTRON IRRADIATED GOLD AND THE INFLUENCE OF MERCURY IMPURITY ATOMS
Spectroscopically pure gold is neutron-irradiated at --196 deg C to a dose of 5 x 10/sup 17/ nvt, and the isochronal anaealing of the radiation darnage up to +100 deg C is studied from changes in the electrical resistance measured in liquid helium. Three principal annealing peaks at approximately ing, are observed; the third peak is considerably larger than the other two. An almost identical annealing spectrum is obtained for a 0.25-atomic-per-cent mercury-- gold alloy prepared by irradiating gold with thermal neutrons at 80 deg C, the main difference being that the Hg--Au peaks are slightly smaller. If the alloy is annealed at 345 deg C for one hour before being irradiated at --196 deg C the annealing spectrum is even more similar to that observed with pure gold. It is suggested that the first two peaks are caused by the migration of interstitials from impurity traps and the third to the migration of vacancies. It is also suggested that, because of the small effect of the doping, the binding energy between an interstitial and a mercury atom is less than about 0.1 ev. It is inferred that some of the radiation damage introduced during the preparation of the alloys nucleates as small defect clusters around a fracti on of the impurity traps. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, Berks, Eng.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-005012
- OSTI ID:
- 4752179
- Report Number(s):
- AERE-R-4073
- Journal Information:
- Phil. Mag., Journal Name: Phil. Mag. Vol. Vol: (8), 7
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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