Comparison of theoretical and experimental 3He desorption behaviour of titanium tritide films

Helium-3 formed by tritium radioactive decay from tritide layer desorbs at room temperature slowly in a first step, more strongly afterwards. A helium-3 desorption model has been established, based on the positions of He-3 atom and trapping sites in the γ tritide lattice, CaF₂ type, supposed in a perfect state. Theoretical desorption curves as a function of time or helium concentration in the layer has been computed, for metal tritide or deutero-tritide layers. Experimental curves, for a wide tritium concentration range, are given here in the case of titanium layers. They show good agreement with theoretical curves for appropriate parameter values, up to a helium/titanium atomic ratio of 0.25 to 0.30. For higher helium concentrations, rapid helium desorption can be explained by gas bubble growth and percolation, and mechanical degradation of the layer: at this stage, the theoretical model does not apply.