Helium-Hydrogen Synergistic Effects in Structural Materials Under Fusion Neutron Irradiation
Jia Huang, Haocheng Liu, Zhiying Gao, Yue Su, Qingyuan Liu, Wei Ge, Fengping Luo, Songqin Xia, Liuxuan Cao, Jianming Xue, Yugang Wang, Chenxu Wang
Abstract
In fusion reactors, 14 MeV high-energy neutron irradiation of structural materials will produce large amounts of helium and hydrogen simultaneously with displacement defects. These He and H atoms will interact with displacement defects, leading to He-H synergistic effects and aggravating the irradiation damage. Currently, there exist no available high-flux fusion neutron sources. Additionally, the neutron energy spectrum and the generation of He and H in fission reactors or spallation neutron sources greatly differ from those in fusion reactors. Multi-ion beam irradiation is a promising method to emulate the synergistic effects induced by fusion neutron irradiation. This review summarizes the experimental studies on the He-H synergistic effects, and analyzes the effects of He and H on cavity evolution and swelling under multi-ion beam irradiation. The roles of various experimental factors are also discussed. More systematically controlled experiments are suggested to develop a comprehensive understanding of He-H synergistic effects in structural materials.