Advancements in primary radiation damage models and SRIM simulations: A review of radiation damage predictions

Evaluating radiation damage in materials and devices is vital for their use in extreme environments, but accurate predictions are challenging due to uncertainties in traditional models like Primary Radiation Damage Models (PRDMs) and modern simulations such as Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter (SRIM). This paper reviews essential methodologies for predicting radiation damage, including the Kinchin-Pease (K-P), Norgett-Robinson-Torrens dpa (NRT-dpa), athermal recombination corrected dpa (arc-dpa), replacement per atom dpa (rpa-dpa), and Chen-Bernard dpa (CB-dpa) models. It underscores the importance of athermal recombination, empirical validations, and practical applications. The constraints of SRIM are discussed, emphasizing the inaccuracies in the Lindhard, Scharff, and Schiott (LSS) stopping powers and energy transfer processes in Full Cascade (F-C) and Quick Calculation (Q-C) modes. Key factors like threshold displacement energy, electronic stopping powers, density, and binding energy are also summarized. Finally, the key findings and prospects for future research are presented. This review offers insights into the current state of radiation damage modeling, providing guidance for applications in nuclear, aerospace, and other radiation-related fields.