Utilization of electron accelerators for simulation and studies of radiation effects on mechanical properties of fusion reactor materials

Based on fundamental research in the field of radiation damage of materials, a method is developed to simulate and investigate principal mechanical properties of materials with the help of high-energy electron and gamma-ray beams. This method allows a simultaneous simulation of radiation damage arising during use of materials in nuclear fission and fusion reactors with different helium impregnation-to-damage generation rate ratios. The method is used to simulate and study radiation hardening, low-temperature and high-temperature radiation embrittlement and radiation creep phenomena. A correlation is established between the reactor and simulation experiments. This allows one to forecast the changes of mechanical properties of materials under operating conditions.