INSITU DETECTION OF RADIATION BLISTERING AND DYNAMIC DEUTERIUM DEPTH PROFILING DURING D+ BOMBARDMENT OF SOLIDS

An in-situ method, based on the scattering of laser light at a non-specularangle from the irradiated surface, is used to detect the onset of radiation blistering of metal surfaces under deuteron bombardment. At the same time the dynamic depth profile of deuterium in the near surface region of the target is followed without interruption over the course of implantation by observing the energy spectra of tritons and protons from the D-D reaction initiated by the primary deuteron beam. The use of a beam having a gradation in current density across the target area allows a variety of effects to be studied in a single irradiation of the particular sample. The use of these techniques is illustrated with reference to an investigation of radiation blistering in microcrystallite copper at 350 K. © 1978.