Modeling the sharp deuterium release from beryllium co-deposits

Abstract

Many studies have shown a sharp deuterium desorption from beryllium at around 450 K. In an attempt to model this sharp release, a new model was developed, describing the formation and decomposition of beryllium deuteride. Such a model was found to reproduce the sharp desorption peak in the thermal desorption spectrum. Moreover, in contrast to other models, the new model was able to reproduce the constant deuterium desorption from beryllium held at a constant elevated temperature. Fitting the modeling results to experimental data allowed us to determine the deuterium solubility limit in beryllium, which indicated an endothermic formation of beryllium deuteride. New values of the deuterium surface recombination coefficient were also obtained, differing from the ones found in the literature.