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Abstract
The effects which may accompany radioactive decay in irradiated metals can be described in terms of five mechanisms. Two are responsible for the production of defects, and two can annihilate existing defects. The fifth mechanism is the formation of transmutations. The relative importance of each mechanism is dependent upon the nuclear properties and damage state of the metal. The experimental observation of the effects of some of these mechanisms is made by means of resistivity change measurements in thermal neutron-irradiated Cu, W, Re, and Au. The observation of those effects which produce compensating changes is accomplished through the use of post-irradiation annealing procedures and control of defect concentration.