Interface Structure and Radiation Damage Resistance in Cu-Nb Multilayer Nanocomposites

Abstract

We use atomistic simulations to show that upon removal or insertion of atoms, misfit dislocations in Cu-Nb interfaces shift between two adjacent planes, forming pairs of extended jogs. Different jog combinations give rise to interface structures with unlike densities but nearly degenerate energies, making Cu-Nb interfaces virtually inexhaustible sinks for radiation-induced point defects and catalysts for efficient Frenkel pair recombination.