The influence of impurity atoms on the annealing kinetics of electron irradiated copper

Abstract

Spectroscopically pure copper and three dilute copper alloys containing approximately 0·05 atomic % of silver, cadmium and beryllium respectively have been irradiated with 4 MeV electrons at -196°c and then annealed at temperatures up to + 50°c. The recovery of the irradiation damage has been observed by measuring changes in electrical resistance, measured in liquid helium. The annealing peeks at approximately -140°, -80° end 0°c have been observed in the spectroscopically pure copper. Similar peaks occur also in the dilute alloys, but their exact form is significantly altered. A tentative explanation consistent with a widely held description of the annealing stages in irrediated copper is put forward.