Analysis of formation of primary radiation-induced point defects in graphite under action of secondary neutrons and π−-mesons generated in various channels of nuclear reactions upon graphite irradiation by 450-GeV protons

Abstract

A theoretical model is constructed and the rates of formation are calculated for primary radiation-induced point defects in graphite by secondary neutrons and π−-mesons generated in various nuclear reaction channels upon irradiation of graphite by a 450-GeV proton beam. Calculations are performed using the ENDF-VII nuclear data base for energies of secondary particles lower than 150 MeV. It is shown that neutrons produce the highest generation rate of point radiation-induced defects in graphite (the rate of formation of defects under the action of neutrons is an order of magnitude higher than the corresponding value for π−-mesons).