Atomistic simulation of the process of defect formation in uranium dioxide during fission fragments flying through

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the simulation of the process of the formation of defects in uranium dioxide upon the flight of xenon and zirconium ions with energies characteristic of fission fragments. The simulation was performed using the Monte Carlo method in combination with atomistic simulation. This made it possible to realize a new approach to the solution of the problem of the formation of primary defects in the nuclear fuel. As a result of the simulation, it was revealed that the formation of dislocation loops directly in the course of the flight of a fission fragment is extremely improbable. All primary defects formed upon the atomistic simulation are point defects or clusters consisting of a small number of such defects. The estimates of the number of primary radiation defects per fission in uranium are given.