Synchrotron radiation based techniques for the study of structural radiation damage

There are many X-ray based experimental techniques that can be used to study material characteristics. For several of these experiments can be carried out in real time whilst the material is subjected to manipulations that mimic damage inducing processes. These processes can range from chemical (i.e. corrosion studies), via mechanical (i.e. deformation, stress/strain) to purely physical (i.e. radiation damage). It is rare that one is in the situation that radiation damage can be studied in real time. However, when care is taken one can prepare radiation damaged material in such a way that the radiation damage is frozen in until a trigger, like a thermal treatment, releases these defects and the evolution of the primary effect to larger scale structure, which will have an effect on the morpohology and macroscopic mechanical stability, can be studied in real time. This can render information relevant to the functioning of mechanical components in high radiation and environmentally extreme, with respect to temperature and pressure, conditions. An oversight of some of the relevant experimental techniques will be given.