Trapping and replacement of 25–1000 eV deuterium in silicon, stainless steel and molybdenum

Abstract The trapping of deuterium with energies between 25 and 1000 eV into silicon, 304 stainless steel and molybdenum at room temperature has been studied using the D ( 3 He,p) 4 He nuclear reaction. Studies of the subsequent bombardment of the deuterium-saturated surface by protons of the same energy have been carried out, and this results in a decrease in the trapped deuterium according to a two-term exponential function characterised by two cross-sections. A description of the variation with ion energy of deuterium replacement cross-sections for these target materials and conditions have been made. An attempt is made to explain the mechanisms involved in the replacement phenomena occuring in the experiments reported.