Structural response of defect-free and pre-cracked high-entropy metallic glasses to ion irradiation

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structural response of defect-free and pre-cracked high entropy metallic glasses (HEMGs) to ion irradiation. Irradiation induces local melting and rapid quenching within the collision cascade core, which increases atomic mobility, increases free volume and rejuvenates the defect-free HEMG. Calculated excess entropy shows that irradiation not only increases free volume but also alters local atomic order, contributing to the formation of hierarchical structural features. In pre-cracked HEMGs, irradiation not only heals cracks through local melting and atomic rearrangements, but also generates excess free volume around the crack zone. This increased free volume significantly enhances structural rejuvenation and promotes more pronounced hierarchical structures. These results highlight ion irradiation as a promising strategy for crack repair and rejuvenation, potentially extending the service life of HEMGs in advanced nuclear applications. • Irradiation induces local melting followed by a rapid quenching, activating the structural relaxation in HEMGs. • The accelerated redistribution of atomic volume in the collision cascade zone results in structural rejuvenation. • Irradiation can heal cracks in HEMGs by inducing local atomic rearrangements around the crack zone. • Irradiation controlled crack repair and removal generates more free volume in HEMGs, leading to more pronounced structural rejuvenation and hierarchical structures.