Influence of the shock wave pressure gradient in α-Fe irradiated by a high-power ion beam on the occurence of a microhardness maximum at large depths

Abstract

The defect structure and microhardness of α-Fe irradiated by a high-power pulsed beam have been studied using positron annihilation, transmission electron spectroscopy, and a nanoindenter, and results are presented. It is shown that in α-Fe exposed to a high-power pulsed beam, the pressure gradient and depth of formation of the shock wave front influence the formation and location of the dislocation density maximum and the microhardness maximum in the modified layer.