Anisotropy of defect production in electron irradiated iron

Single crystals of α-iron 10–25μ thick were irradiated along either the ⟨100⟩ or ⟨111⟩ directions with electrons in the energy range 0·3–2·0 Mev. The irradiations were carried out below 25°K and the electrical resistivity change, as a function of electron dose, measured by a sensitive potentiometric technique. The results show distinct variations in damage rates according to the direction of irradiation. Computations have been carried out based on the theoretical calculations of Erginsoy el al. (1964) of the anisotropy of the displacement energy, in order to predict the damage rate as a function of energy for each of these incident directions of irradiation. Reasonable agreement between computed and experimental curves was obtained.