X-ray diffuse scattering study of irradiation induced dislocation loops in copper

The use of X-ray diffuse scattering to carry out detailed investigations of vacancy and interstitial loops in ion and neutron irradiated copper is discussed. The theory and interpretation of asymptotic diffuse scattering near Bragg reflections are considered, and calculations are presented for the asymptotic diffuse scattering from faulted vacancy and interstitial loops in copper. Diffuse scattering measurements near the 222 reflection for copper irradiated with fast neutrons or with high energy Ni ions are analyzed to obtain separate size distributions for vacancy and interstitial loops, and the size distributions are discussed in relation to existing electron microscopy results. Asymptotic X-ray diffuse scattering is applied to the study of the thermal evolution of dislocation loops in Ni ion-irradiated copper as well.