Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten

While tungsten has emerged as a primary candidate for plasma-facing components in future fusion devices, the effects of electronic excitations on the irradiation damage behavior under high-energy irradiation remain unclear. In this work, using a two-temperature (2T-MD) model in molecular dynamics si...

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Main Authors: Shaoding Sheng, Shuwan Wei, Chengling Zhang, Chao Zhang, Guo Pu, Bing-Sheng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Physics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1592186/full
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author Shaoding Sheng
Shuwan Wei
Chengling Zhang
Chao Zhang
Guo Pu
Bing-Sheng Li
author_facet Shaoding Sheng
Shuwan Wei
Chengling Zhang
Chao Zhang
Guo Pu
Bing-Sheng Li
author_sort Shaoding Sheng
collection DOAJ
description While tungsten has emerged as a primary candidate for plasma-facing components in future fusion devices, the effects of electronic excitations on the irradiation damage behavior under high-energy irradiation remain unclear. In this work, using a two-temperature (2T-MD) model in molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the effects of irradiation energy, irradiation temperature, electron density and the electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling activation time on the cascade dynamics in tungsten. The results showed that the electronic effect has significant impacts on the formation of irradiation defects, especially under high-energy irradiation. Compared with the results of classical molecular dynamics calculations, the numbers of peak and surviving defects calculated using 2T-MD model were significantly reduced under high-energy ion irradiation (∼150 keV). The number of peak defects increased with temperature, while the surviving defects showed a similar number. With the increase of electron density, the number of peak defects decreased. However, the number of surviving defects was almost unaffected by the electron density. The later the e-ph coupling activation time, the more the number of peak and surviving defects. The mechanisms were well explained by analyzing the local atomic and electronic temperatures. Our work provides valuable information for understanding the electronic effects on the primary radiation damage in tungsten.
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issn 2296-424X
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Physics
spelling doaj-art-99b923074e4e4364b37c80a60a49acaf2025-08-20T03:08:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2025-04-011310.3389/fphy.2025.15921861592186Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungstenShaoding Sheng0Shuwan Wei1Chengling Zhang2Chao Zhang3Guo Pu4Bing-Sheng Li5School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, ChinaBeijing Tuobao Additive Manufacturing Technology Co., Beijing, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, ChinaSchool of National Defense Science and Technology, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Environment Friendly Energy Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, ChinaWhile tungsten has emerged as a primary candidate for plasma-facing components in future fusion devices, the effects of electronic excitations on the irradiation damage behavior under high-energy irradiation remain unclear. In this work, using a two-temperature (2T-MD) model in molecular dynamics simulations, we investigated the effects of irradiation energy, irradiation temperature, electron density and the electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling activation time on the cascade dynamics in tungsten. The results showed that the electronic effect has significant impacts on the formation of irradiation defects, especially under high-energy irradiation. Compared with the results of classical molecular dynamics calculations, the numbers of peak and surviving defects calculated using 2T-MD model were significantly reduced under high-energy ion irradiation (∼150 keV). The number of peak defects increased with temperature, while the surviving defects showed a similar number. With the increase of electron density, the number of peak defects decreased. However, the number of surviving defects was almost unaffected by the electron density. The later the e-ph coupling activation time, the more the number of peak and surviving defects. The mechanisms were well explained by analyzing the local atomic and electronic temperatures. Our work provides valuable information for understanding the electronic effects on the primary radiation damage in tungsten.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1592186/fulltungstentwo-temperature modelelectronic effectlocal temperaturemolecular dynamics
spellingShingle Shaoding Sheng
Shuwan Wei
Chengling Zhang
Chao Zhang
Guo Pu
Bing-Sheng Li
Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
Frontiers in Physics
tungsten
two-temperature model
electronic effect
local temperature
molecular dynamics
title Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
title_full Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
title_fullStr Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
title_full_unstemmed Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
title_short Effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
title_sort effects of electronic excitation on cascade dynamics in tungsten
topic tungsten
two-temperature model
electronic effect
local temperature
molecular dynamics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1592186/full
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AT shuwanwei effectsofelectronicexcitationoncascadedynamicsintungsten
AT chenglingzhang effectsofelectronicexcitationoncascadedynamicsintungsten
AT chaozhang effectsofelectronicexcitationoncascadedynamicsintungsten
AT guopu effectsofelectronicexcitationoncascadedynamicsintungsten
AT bingshengli effectsofelectronicexcitationoncascadedynamicsintungsten