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China reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steel is irradiated at 773 K with 792 MeV Ar-ions to fluences of 2.3×1020 and 4.6×1020 ions/m2, respectively. The variation of the microstructures of the Reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steel samples with the Ar-ion penetration depth is investigated using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). From analyses of the microstructure changes along with the Ar-ions penetrating depth, it is found that high-density cavities form in the peak damage region. The average size and the number density of the cavities depend strongly on the damage level and Ar-atom concentration. Swelling due to the formation of cavities increases significantly with an increased damage level, and the existence of deposited Ar-atoms also enhances the growth of the average size of the cavities. The effect of atom displacements and Ar-atoms on the swelling of the RAFM steel under high energy Ar-ion irradiation is discussed briefly.

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