V. B.Vykhodets, T. E. Kurennykh

CRITERIA FOR OBSERVING HYDROGEN TUNNELING IN METALS

Based on the analysis of the results of theoretical and experimental research, this study develops criteria that metals must meet for it to be possible to observe hydrogen tunneling in metals, as well as methods for measuring quantum diffusion coefficients. Firstly, the distance between the nearest equilibrium positions of hydrogen atoms in the metal lattice must be small enough, about 0.15 nm. Secondly, the Debye temperature of the metal must be low enough, below 350 K. Thirdly, the necessary condition for observing hydrogen tunneling is a correct choice of methods for measuring hydrogen diffusion coefficients. If the hydrogen diffusion coefficient according to the classical migration mechanism is about 10–11 m2/s or higher in the Debye temperature range, it is expedient to use indirect methods based on the Gorsky effect or on measuring the spin lattice relaxation rate via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). At lower values of the classical diffusion coefficient in the Debye temperature range of metals, to observe quantum diffusion, it is necessary to use the technique of direct online nuclear reaction analysis (NRAOL) alone or in combination with nuclear reaction analysis (NRA).

Acknowledgment: The research was carried out under the state assignment from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme Function, No. 122021000035-6).

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