  Dislocation networks and their evolution are known to control the mechanical
properties of metal samples. However, the lack of computationally efficient and
statistically rigorous descriptors for such defect systems has hindered the
development and adoption of rational protocols for the optimal design of these
material systems. This study presents a framework for the rigorous statistical
quantification and low dimensional representation of dislocation networks using
the formalism of 2-point spatial correlations (also called 2-point statistics)
along with Principle Component Analysis (PCA). The usefulness of this basic
framework for comparing and observing dislocation networks is exemplified and
discussed with suitable examples.
