Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations were made of the interaction between gliding dislocations, of edge or screw type, and truncated stacking-fault tetrahedra or overlapping stacking-fault tetrahedra. The most common result of the edge-dislocation interaction with a truncated stacking-fault tetrahedron was defect shearing; ultimately leading to complete separation into 2 smaller defect clusters. Partial absorption of the truncated stacking-fault tetrahedron was the most common result of the interaction with a screw dislocation; resulting in the formation of super-jog (or helical) segments as the defect was absorbed into the dislocation core. The resultant non-planar screw dislocation was self-pinned, with reduced mobility, and was re-emitted as a similar truncated stacking-fault tetrahedron as the applied shear stress was increased. The re-emitted truncated stacking-fault tetrahedron was often rotated and translated relative to the original position. These observations were consistent with the hypothesis that shearing (decreased defect cluster size) and dislocation dragging of the defect clusters by partial absorption into the dislocation core contributed to the formation of defect-free channels.

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Interactions between Dislocation and Imperfect Stacking Fault Tetrahedron in Cu. L.Saintoyant, H.J.Lee, B.D.Wirth: Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2007, 361[2-3], 206-17