Results of irradiating aluminum and homogeneous alloy YMn2 by 23 MeV γ-quanta in a molecular deuterium atmosphere at 2 kbar pressure

Specimens of a number of metal were placed successively along the length in a deuterium high-pressure chamber of the “finger type” (DHPC-FT). The specimens were: two aluminum rods, a copper rod, two YMn₂ alloy specimens, and stainless steel. The molecular deuterium pressure in the DHPC-FT chamber was 2 kbar. The specimens were irradiated by braking γ-quanta with boundary energy 23 MeV. After irradiation, all specimens were investigated on scanning electron microscopes (SEM) with electron probe X-ray microelement analysis (XMA). Considerable changes in the structure of the surfaces and elemental composition of the measured aluminum, destruction of the homogeneous YMn₂ alloy specimen, and the “formation of monocrystalline specimens” of the YMn₂ type and structures resembling manganese-based “crystals” were observed. A phenomenological explanation of the observed phenomena and effects based on nuclear reactions is proposed with consideration of certain new approaches, which are examined.