Radiation defect clustering in graphite studied by synchrotron radiation scattering

The formation of radiation defect clusters as interstitial dislocation loops in pyrographite irradiated by 20-MeV carbon ions in a cyclotron has been studied by means of synchrotron radiation scattering. The experimental data are interpreted in terms of the Krivoglaz model and the model of deformation domain formation by dislocation loops. Parameters of the pyrographite crystal lattice in the deformed state upon ion irradiation have been determined using experimental data on the shift and broadening of the Bragg peaks. The results of experiments and their theoretical analysis indicate that the phenomena of the crystal lattice densification (shrinkage) and the radiation-induced swelling (increase in volume) observed for graphite irradiated by fast neutrons in a nuclear reactor can be studied in model experiments on charged particle accelerators using irradiation of the samples with carbon ions at much lower doses and significantly shorter exposure times.