A stochastic theory for clustering of quenched in vacancies II. A solvable model

Abstract

The model introduced for clustering of quenched-in vacancies in the first part of this series of papers is considered. Using a generating function, the rate equations are converted into a first order partial differential equation for the generating function coupled to a differential equation for the rate of change of the concentration of single vacancy units. A decoupling scheme is effected which gives an exponentially decaying solution with a very short time constant for the concentration of single vacancy units. The differential equation for the generating function is solved for times larger than the time required for the concentration of single vacancy units to reach its asymptotic value. The distribution for the size of the clusters is obtained by inverting the solution thus obtained. Several results that follow are shown to be in reasonably good agreement with the experimental results.