Experiments on tritium generation and yield from lithium ceramics during neutron irradiation

The vacuum extraction method with a mass spectrometry registration of tritium is presented in paper. It can provide a full-range analysis of gas phase composition in the chamber with samples under neutron irradiation. Lithium ceramics Li₂TiO₃ in the form of pebbles with lithium enrichment on ⁶Li isotope of 96% was examined. The paper shows the results of reactor experiments on study the extraction of tritium-containing molecules from lithium ceramics Li₂TiO₃ at various temperatures and reactor power levels at the WWR-K research reactor (Almaty, Kazakhstan). The time dependences of tritium yield from the ampoule with ceramics during reactor irradiation were obtained. Near-surface concentrations of tritium and hydrogen atoms on the ceramics surface under reactor irradiation were estimated.