Atomic-scale influence of {101¯2} twin boundaries on the growth behavior of <c>-component dislocation loops in magnesium

C-component dislocation loops are one unique type of irradiation-induced defect in hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals that contribute to irradiation hardening and the degradation of mechanical performance. Although the grain boundaries are generally regarded as effective sinks for irradiation-induced defects, whether low-energy {101¯2} twin boundaries (TBs) served as comparable defect sinks remains unclear, particularly in hcp systems. In this study, the in-situ transmission electron microscope combined with geometric phase analysis was employed to dynamically visualize the atomic-scale interaction between {101¯2} twin boundaries and 〈c〉 loops. The results demonstrate that the twin boundary exerts a long-range, distance-mediated influence on the growth of the loops even before physical contact occurs. As the loop approaches the boundary, the strongly localized lattice strain it imposes is accommodated through transient structural transformation of the TB, which subsequently self-healing. These findings provide insight into how TBs influence defects in hcp metals and inform radiation-resistant material design.