The heat of solution and interaction effects for noble gas atoms in metals

A simple model is presented from which the enthalpy of solution of noble gases in arbitrary metals can be estimated quantitatively.The heat of solution is derived as the interfacial energy at the contact interface between the metal and a noble gas atomic cell in solution.The model picture offers an explanation for the strong attraction between noble gas atoms, in particular helium, and vacancies, other noble gas atoms or metallic impurities with a low surface energy.