Dramatic Growth of GlassyPd80Si20during Heavy-Ion Irradiation

Abstract

Under heavy-ion irradiation of the metallic glass ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{80}$ ${\mathrm{Si}}_{20}$ the sample dimensions perpendicular to the ion beam axis grow dramatically without appreciable change in volume (no swelling) or microscopic structure. The characteristics of this growth in amorphous ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{80}$ ${\mathrm{Si}}_{20}$ are examined in some detail and compared with radiation growth in crystals. None of the available growth mechanisms proposed for crystalline metals is able to explain this new kind of radiation growth.