We study radiation-damage events in MgO on experimental time scales by augmenting molecular dynamics cascade simulations with temperature accelerated dynamics, molecular statics, and density functional theory. At 400 eV, vacancies and mono- and di-interstitials form, but often annihilate within milliseconds. At 2 and 5 keV, larger clusters can form and persist. While vacancies are immobile, interstitials aggregate into clusters ($I_n$) with surprising properties; e.g., an $I_4$ is immobile, but an impinging $I_2$ can create a metastable $I_6$ that diffuses on the nanosecond time scale but is stable for years.

• Received 12 November 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.115505