RECOIL ENERGY-SPECTRUM EFFECTS AND POINT-DEFECT PROCESSES CHARACTERISTIC OF CASCADES

A procedure is proposed for the primary recoil energy spectrum analysis of the effects of high energy particle irradiation. Comparisons are made between fusion and fission neutrons. Examples of the analysis of cascades and subcascades by 14 MeV neutrons are quoted. Estimation of the deposited energy density and the concept of subcascade energy are among the major consequences. Point defect processes, including the point defect cluster formation from cascades and the reaction of freely migrating defects, are reviewed. The importance of two kinds of point defect processes characteristics of cascade collision damage is emphasized. These are the impact effect from a cascade to point defects produced by other cascades and the effect of the difference in the localization of vacancies and interstitials in a cascade (Cascade Localization Induced Bias (CLIB)).