Principal Investigator Michael J Demkowicz
Recent work has shown that interfaces can act as super sinks to point defects. This study is focused understanding the dynamics of point defects at the heterophase metal interfaces; we study Cu-Nb interface as a model system. Point defects are delocalized at the interface and form jog pairs. Isolated jog pairs migrate through a two step process along a set of dislocations. Mass transport due to these migration events is 1D long one of the two sets of misfit dislocations.
We plan to use our understanding about such unit processes to develop models that predict the long-time behavior of nanocomposites to radiation. We are also developing models, based on unit processes identified by atomistic studies, that can be used to search for better radiation-tolerant materials.