Vacancy migration in -iron investigated using in situ high-voltage electron microscopy

Abe, Yosuke  ; Sato, Yuki*; Hashimoto, Naoyuki*

We measured the growth rate of self-interstitial atom (SIA) clusters in electron-irradiated -iron at 275-320 K using in situ high-voltage electron microscopy. To improve the statistical accuracy of the measurement, we used photographic films and video data. This enabled analysis of a considerable amount of data by extracting several SIA clusters and tracking their size growth using image processing techniques. By fitting the temperature-dependent cluster growth rate to the Arrhenius relations derived using rate theory analysis, we obtained vacancy migration energy of eV. In addition, the effects of impurities leading to decrease in the cluster growth rate were briefly discussed.