Defects in high purity iron after 27K-electron irradiation

Point defects produced by low temperature electron irradiation in high purity iron specimens were investigated by magnetic aftereffect (MAE) and electrical resistivity measurements. Clearly separated from the large resistivity recovery state at 1000K a stage at 1300K has been observed which shifts with increasing defect density to lower temperatures in good agreement with a reaction order γ = 2. The MAE observed at 1100K is characterized by the activation energy Q = (0.30 +- 0.015) eV and the time constant tau0 = 10-12 s and recovers in the two stages at 100 and 1300K. It is therefore concluded that the two stages involve the elimination of the same type of defects