Trapping of helium atoms in aluminum

Abstract

Using molecular dynamic simulation, the effect of vacancy clusters on the interstitial helium atoms was studied in the early stages of helium bubble formation in the vessel of fission reactor, aluminum. The simulation shows, that there is a slight propensity of helium interstitial clustering without initial vacancies in aluminum. When vacancy cluster was introduced, the behavior of interstitial helium atoms was strongly dependent on the ratio of vacancy to helium. The interstitial helium atoms will be attracted in the center of the vacancy cluster when the ratio of vacancy to helium is much larger than 1, and when the ratio approaches 1, the helium will recombine with the vacancies, and, form in substitutions. In the case of the ratio of vacancy to helium less than 1, some aluminum interstitials will be created. The result shows, that the vacancy cluster plays a role of a nucleation center for helium atoms to accelerate the helium bubble growth.