Effect of pre-irradiation defects on helium trapping and diffusion in RAFM steel

In order to analyze the effect of pre-irradiation defects on helium trapping and diffusion behaviors in detail by slow positron beam, Si ion with high energies (300 keV and 6 MeV) and 100 eV helium plasma were sequentially introduced into reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel. Massive microscopic defects were observed in Si ion irradiated specimens. Low energy helium (∼100 eV) atoms could diffuse into much deeper region in metals without displacement damage. In the diffusion process of helium atoms, they would be trapped by the Si-ion pre-irradiation defects. The formation of He-vacancy complexes would affect the annihilation of positrons with the electrons in pre-irradiation defects and decrease the S parameters. The shallow region defects induced by 300 keV irradiation have more obvious advantage of hindering the diffusion of helium over the deep defects than that in 6 MeV irradiation. Thus, the pre-introduced defects can trap effectively helium atoms and hinder their diffusion.