Tritium Depth Profiling Study on Titanium Tritide Target for Generating 14-MeV Neutrons

Abstract

In-situ measurements of the depth profiles of tritium in a titanium tritide target for generating 14-MeV neutrons have been made with the method of the ion beam analysis using the T(d, α)n nuclear reaction. The initial distribution of tritium in the unirradiated target has been observed to be nearly uniform over the depths. After the irradiation of 390-keV Ds⁺ ions at a temperature of about 10°C a dip has been found in the depth profile around the depth of the projected range of the ions. By the successive isochronal annealings at temperatures below 130°C the tritium has been uniformly redistributed. The behavior of tritium in the target and the effectiveness of the depth profiling for evaluating the energy spectrum and the yield of source neutrons are discussed.