Kinetics of the beta ->alpha transformation and the hierarchical nature ofstructure defects in the two-phase state in the Pd-H system

Possible types of time dependences p(t) describing the kinetics of the beta -->alpha transformation in the Pd-H system are presented based on the theo ry of hierarchical structures. It is shown that one factor influencing the change in the time dependence p(t) is the degree of regularity in the distr ibution of defects in the hierarchical complexes and the strength of the hi erarchical coupling determining the number of hierarchically coupled levels . Analysis of the relations obtained and the experimental data made it poss ible to distinguish the most likely physical causes for the retardation of the beta -->alpha transformation. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [ S1063-7834(99)01809-2].