Corrections to sink strengths used in rate equation simulations of defects in solids

Abstract

The mean-field rate equations have proven to be a versatile method in simulating defect dynamics and temporal changes in the micro-structure of materials. However, the reliability and usefulness of the method depends critically on the defect interaction parameters used. In this study, we show that the sink strength depends also on the detrapping or dissociation process. The sink strength for a defect that is detrapped, is much larger than the values usually used. We present a theory how to determine the appropriate sink strength, and show that the rate equation method, in some cases, gives wrong results if the detrapping dependence on the sink strength parameter is omitted.