Influence of helium on hydrogen isotope exchange in tungsten at sequential exposures to deuterium and helium–protium plasmas

Abstract Hydrogen isotopes exchange in tungsten was investigated after sequential exposures to low energy deuterium (D) and helium–seeded protium (He–seeded H) plasmas at sample temperatures of 403 and 533 K. Deuterium depth profiles were measured by the D( 3 He, p) 4 He nuclear reaction with 3 He + energies between 0.69 and 4.5 MeV allowing determination of the D concentration up to a depth of 8 μm. It was found that a significant part of the deuterium initially retained in tungsten after D plasma exposure was released during sequential exposure to a protium plasma. However, exposure of the D-plasma-exposed W samples to the He–seeded H plasma reduces the amount of released deuterium as compared to pure H plasma exposure.