Vacancy interaction with glissile interstitial clusters in bcc metals

The interaction between a glissile cluster of self-interstitial atoms and a vacancy has been studied in alpha -Fe by atomistic modelling and elasticit y theory. It was found that vacancies can annihilate only with the cluster edge. Vacancies inside the cluster glide prism do not annihilate with inter stitials but a? ect the cluster dynamic properties. Depending on the cluste r size and ambient temperature, these vacancies reduce or even prevent clus ter motion. Qualitative differences in the results of atomistic and elastic ity theory approaches were found, thereby demonstrating the need for the at omistic approach.