The evolution of interfaces in alloys under irradiation was considered in terms of a model which involved 2 dynamic processes that operated in parallel. The first process corresponded to the thermally activated migration of atoms; as assisted by point defects. The second process corresponded to the forced ballistic mixing which was produced by nuclear collisions in metallic alloys. By using atomistic kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and analytical modelling, it was shown that interfaces under irradiation could undergo kinetic roughening or kinetic faceting. Self-organization of precipitates at the mesoscale could occur when the range of ballistic mixing was greater than a threshold value. The results were relevant to the ion-beam synthesis of non-equilibrium nanostructures.

Interface Stability and Self-Organization of Precipitates under Irradiation. P.Bellon, R.A.Enrique: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2001, 178[1-4], 1-6