On the Recombination Rate of Irradiation-Induced Interstitials and Vacancies

The rate of recombination of interstitials and vacancies is described on the basis of theoretically derived recombination cross-sections. The numerical values of these cross-sections are substantially lower than the values normally quoted in the literature. The physical situations behind the simplified recombination models (recombination between nearest-neighbour defects and recombination between defects with common nearest neighbours) and the transition between these situations are described. The consistency between the recombination term and the other rate-equation terms and the complications arising when interstitials and vacancies have approximately the same mobility are also discussed.