Samaras M, Derlet P M, Van Swygenhoven H, Victoria M
Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
Phys Rev Lett. 2002 Mar 25;88(12):125505. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.125505. Epub 2002 Mar 7.
Large-scale molecular dynamics of cascade production of the primary damage state are performed in fcc nanocrystalline Ni of average grain diameters of 5 and 12 nm. Primary knock-on atom kinetic energies of 5-30 keV are simulated. During the thermal spike phase, significant atomic motion towards the surrounding grain boundary structure is observed, characterized by many replacement-collision sequences. Upon resolidification, the excess volume condenses to form vacancy dominated defects with a complex partial dislocation network forming at higher energies.
