Effect of the displacement damage from argon ion irradiation on the synergistic effect of helium–hydrogen in tungsten

The effect of argon ion pre-irradiation on helium and hydrogen ion irradiation was investigated in tungsten. At the same time, comparative experiments were carried out on the irradiation of helium and hydrogen ions in tungsten. Without the argon ion irradiation, the energy of 35 keV hydrogen ions mainly accelerated the coalescence of defects created by the 60 keV helium ions, the irradiation damage degree increased with hydrogen ion fluence increasing. With the argon ion irradiation, lots of voids were created by argon ion irradiation, which increased the helium and hydrogen retention and the synergistic effect of helium–hydrogen in tungsten. In the same hydrogen fluence, the surface damage degree with argon ion pre-irradiation was higher than that without argon ion pre-irradiation.