Diffusion and release of hydrogen from metals under the effect of ionizing radiation

• Hydrogen metal subsystem is studied theoretically.
• A model for irradiation-induced hydrogen yield from metals is developed.
• Hydrogen yield from metals is mainly depends on the electrons irradiation time.
• Experimental results are highly correlated with the developed model.

The phenomenological model of non-equilibrium diffusion and release of hydrogen from metals under the effect of electron beam in the sub-threshold region is considered. It is shown that the radiation stimulates the release and diffusion of hydrogen at a rate, significantly exceeds the rate of thermal equilibrium processes in the metals. This can occur in the presence of long-lived, in a time scale of single phonon and electron relaxation, vibrationally excited H-bonds. The proposed model confirms the experimental results previously obtained.