Recent work towards understanding defect evolution in thin molybdenum foils through in situ ion irradiation under TEM and coordinated cluster dynamics modeling

This paper provides a brief review of a recent joint effort towards better understanding of defect evolution in thin molybdenum foils during ion irradiation. In situ TEM ion irradiation experiments and spatially dependent cluster dynamics modeling were closely combined to reveal the fine details of the dose, dose rate and sample dimension dependencies of defect density and size distribution in the early stage of irradiation, and to validate different assumptions with respect to the damage production and defect mobilities. Earlier experimental and computational studies in Mo and in BCC iron as well as outstanding problems yet to be resolved are also discussed in this paper.

► Joint force of in situ TEM irradiation experiments and computer modeling initiated. ► Continuous defect evolution in thin Mo foils irradiated with 1 MeV Kr ions at 80 °C. ► Simple Frenkel pair production inadequate to account for observed defect evolution. ► Intra-cascade cluster production plus cluster mobilities reproduces experiments. ► Previous computational and experimental studies and outstanding questions discussed.