Radiolysis of lithium hydride and deuteride under the action of helium ions

Creation of Li metallic particles in the LiH and LiD crystals irradiated with 4.6 MeV He+ ions is studies by the optical absorption method and the Rutherford backscattering technique. Crystal structure, shape and size of small lithium metallic particles in irradiated with the 1013 - 1014 cm-2 ion flux samples are determined by means of optical adsorption spectra. The lithium metallic particles have body centered crystal structure as the parent metal. The metallic particles have shape of prolate spheroid of revolution with form factor a/b ∼ 1.1 and mean size is equal to 20 nm. Process for storage of the lithium metallic particles in the range of ion flux 1013 - 1014 cm-2 reveals on its one stage character. Critical meaning of the ion flux equal to 2 x 1016 cm-2 causing the surface metallization of irradiated crystal is established by means of the Rutherford backscattering method. It is studied the lithium atom distribution versus ion penetration into an irradiated crystal which revealed that the Li metallic particles are created less easily in LiD crystals in comparison with LiH