Radiation ordering in quenched alloy sobserved “in situ” in the high voltage microscope

Different alloys with a face centered cubic disordered structure have been electron irradiated in the quenched or short range order state under direct observation in a high voltage electron microscope. Ordering due to 1 MeV irradiation has been observed in Au₄Mn, Ni₄Mo and Cu₃Pd. Care has been taken to avoid ordering due to the thermal effect of the electron beam. It has been demonstated that although similar states of order can be achieved by thermal and irradiation ordering, the path followed can be different however.