Generalised theory of diffusion-controlled defect annealing

Recently derived kinetic equations for joint distribution functions of defects are discussed. Defects are assumed to possess a diffusion motion and to annihilate instantly when two dissimilar defects approach a clear-cut recombination radius. Along with the spatial correlation of dissimilar defects (produced by both an initial correlated distribution within 'genetic' Frenkel pairs and a further annihilation), the correlation of similar defects has been taken into account for the first time. The latter arises indirectly from an annihilation of dissimilar defects. Its contribution to the annealing kinetics has been reported. The present theory is compared with earlier developed theories by Waite (1957) and Antonov-Romanovskii (1970).