Transmission Electron Microscopy of Point‐Defect Clusters in Neutron‐Irradiated Metals. I. Copper

Neutron‐irradiated copper has been investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy. The nature of the point‐defect clusters has been determined using stereo microscopy. It is shown that the large defects are predominantly of interstitial type and the small defects of vacancy type. The densities and size distributions of the defects observed in differently pre‐treated and irradiated foils were compared. It was found that only quantitative differences exist. Annealing experiments showed that the defect type and the size distribution of the defects are influenced by the annealing atmosphere.