Statistical analysis of structural relaxation in amorphous Co-Ni-P alloys under γ-irradiation

The relaxation of large-scale (10 - 100 nm) inhomogeneities in the structure of amorphus Co-Ni-P alloys subjected to γ-irradiation was studied by electron microscope techniques and using statistical analysis of the electron microscope images. From the variation of the empirical size distribution functions of the inhomogeneities, and the behaviour of the moments of these distributions, we conclude that the relaxation of the network structure under irradiation can be considered as a coalescence process. A spatial anisotropy in the distribution of structural inhomogeneities was established. This anisotropy does not disappear under γ-irradiation. We also found some correlations between different structural elements and studied their behaviour under γ-irradiation. (author)