Cause of irradiation-induced instability in materials' surfaces discovered
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 - 13:31
in Physics & Chemistry
A new discovery about the dynamic impact of individual energetic particles into a solid surface improves our ability to predict surface stability or instability of materials under irradiation over time. The finding may lead to the design of improved structural materials for nuclear fission and fusion power plants, which must withstand constant irradiation over decades. It may also accelerate the advent of fusion power, which does not produce radioactivity.