Excitation of the Hydrogen Subsystem in Metals and Alloys by Ionizing Radiation

The results of research on the nonequilibrium liberation of deuterium from niobium, palladium, and stainless steel under electron-beam bombardment are reported. The maximum on the deuterium gas liberation curve in the low-temperature region is shown to shift under linear heating with simultaneous electron-beam bombardment in comparison with linear heating without such bombardment. The shift reaches 130° in Nb, 100° in stainless steel, and 65° in Pd. The rate of radiation-stimulated gas liberation increases nonlinearly with the concentration of deuterium introduced and the electron-beam current.