Simultaneous irradiation and thermal effects on 16 MeV proton irradiated tungsten samples

Abstract

Abstract 16 MeV protons have been used to irradiate 300 μm thick macroscopic W samples in a pilot experiment to 0.006 dpa damage dose under low and high temperature scenarios of ∼373 K and ∼1223 K, respectively. The linear pre-Bragg region has been used for damage where the electronic loss (heat) in the sample amounts to 1.5 MW · m−2. Post high-temperature irradiation, the W sample has been recrystallized as seen under the scanning electron microscope. Indentation measurements on the surface show a softening of 0.6 GPa post-recrystallization against an irradiation hardening of 0.8 GPa for the low-temperature irradiation scenario.