Influence of an external magnetic field on damage by self-ion irradiation in Fe90Cr10 alloy

Highlights: • External magnetic field has an effect on the microstructural processes in irradiated Fe–Cr matrix. • Mössbauer spectroscopy provides a plausible assessment of the effect. • Formation of Cr clusters is hindered by external magnetic field. - Abstract: The effect of an external magnetic field (B = 0.5 T) on Fe₉₀Cr₁₀ specimens during Fe ion irradiation, has been investigated by means of Conversion Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS). The analysis has revealed significant differences in the average hyperfine magnetic field (H> = 0.3 T) between non-irradiated and irradiated samples as well as between irradiations made with B (w/ B) and without B (w/o B). It is considered that these variations can be due to changes in the local environment around the probe nuclei (⁵⁷Fe); where vacancies and Cr distribution play a role. The results indicate that the Cr distribution in the neighbourhood of the iron atoms could be changed by the application of an external field. This would imply that an external magnetic field may be an important parameter to take into account in predictive models for Cr behaviour in Fe–Cr alloys, and especially in fusion conditions where intense magnetic fields are required for plasma confinement.