The Irradiation Effect of a Simultaneous Laser and Electron Dual-beam on Void Formation

Randomly distributed lattice point defects such as supersaturated vacancies (SVs) and Frenkel-pairs (FPs, an interstitial and a vacancy) can be simultaneously introduced into the crystal by energetic beam irradiation in outer space and/or nuclear reactors, but their behavior has not been fully understood. Using a high-voltage electron microscope equipped with a laser (laser-HVEM), we show the striking effects of simultaneous laser-electron (photon-electron) dual-beam irradiation on void formation. Our results reveal that during laser-electron sequential irradiation, pre-laser irradiation enhanced void nucleation and subsequent electron irradiation enhanced void growth. However, the laser-electron dual-beam irradiation was analyzed to depress void swelling remarkably because the recombination of SVs and interstitials was enhanced. The results provide insight into the mechanism underlying the dual-beam radiation-induced depression of void swelling in solids.