Self-radiation damage ingrowth in²³⁸PuO₂

Abstract

Abstract Self-irradiation damage due to alpha particle and recoil atom bombardment has been studied in 238PuO2. In a well-annealed sample, the room temperature damage ingrowth follows a simple exponential function to the saturation damage level. In incompletely annealed samples, the damage ingrowth curve is discontinuous and exhibits a maximum. This is believed to result from the migration of point defects to residual sinks.