A molecular dynamics study of a cascade induced irradiation creep mechanism in pure copper

Recently, in-situ TEM straining experiments on pure copper have unraveled a high stress irradiation creep mechanism. Irradiation induced unpinning of dislocations from defects has been observed and the mean pinning lifetime determined. In present study, molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate impact collision cascades screw pinned Frank loops under high-applied stresses at 300 K in order further quantitatively elucidate this The indicate two possible dislocation mechanisms. Unpinning can occur through loop destruction when cascade is generated points (type 1 unpinning). also be triggered by shear building up around front glide plane 2 Type generally leads repinning residues, so that it should only marginally contribute creep. due type conditions derived simple model previously developed for zirconium, found same orders magnitude as experiments.