Welcome

The Center for Defect Physics (CDP) aims to develop a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of defect formation, evolution and interactions that determine material behavior under irradiation. The goal of this research is to provide the knowledge base and validated models of the critical parameters and processes that will accelerate the development of radiation tolerant materials for use in the extreme environments encountered in next generation nuclear energy systems.
The CDP uses novel nano-scale experimental and quantum-informed theoretical techniques to probe the processes that control

• Defect Formation and Short-Term Evolution Under Irradiation
• Dislocation Interactions With Radiation Produced Defects

in iron-based alloys.  Experimentally and theoretically CDP researchers aim to push the length and timescales of experiment down and the length and timescales of quantum informed theory modeling and simulation up to a point where they overlap; thereby allowing the most direct tests of the underlying theoretical models. 
Defects are ubiquitous in structural materials and ultimately control their properties. When such materials are exposed to irradiation, the pre-existing defects are altered and new ones created. Consequently, the properties of materials under irradiation continually evolve in response to defect creation and annihilation and resulting changes in microstructure and useful properties. The long term goal of the CDP is to provide the requisite foundation to accurately predict how key classes of structural materials respond and perform under irradiation, while simultaneously laying the groundwork to guide and accelerate the development of new materials that are resistant to radiation-induced property changes.

— G. Malcolm Stocks, Director

Upcoming Events:
CDP All-Hands Meeting: November  29 - December 1, 2012, Boston, MA