Quantum Diffusion of Deuterium in Sodium.

The online nuclear reaction analysis technique has been applied to study the temperature dependence of deuterium diffusion coefficients for deuterium in sodium at temperatures ranging between 110 and 240 K, and at cryogenic temperatures, below 160 K, tunneling of deuterium atoms in the metal lattice has been observed. Above 160 K, diffusion occurs by the classical mechanism of overbarrier atomic jumps. Results of quantum diffusion of deuterium in a metal have been obtained for the first time; they used to be known only for the lightest hydrogen isotope, protium, in niobium and tantalum. The analysis has shown that the necessary condition for carrying out the quantum mechanism of deuterium migration is low Debye temperature of a metal, below 200 K. Experimental data on diffusion of hydrogen isotope in an alkali metal have also been obtained for the first time in this paper.