The Formation Energy of Vacancies in Aluminium and Magnesium

Abstract

Abstract The formation energy of vacancies is measured under conditions of very low vacancy concentrations for ultrahigh purity aluminium, after quenching down to 4 K. A value of (0.69 ± 0.03) eV is found. Similar experiments made using pure magnesium yield a formation energy of (0.79 ± 0.03) eV. It is shown that in magnesium vacancies are mobile well below room temperature.