Open AccessMolecular dynamics simulation of helium behavior in tungsten matrix
Author(s) -
Jun Wang,
Baoling Zhang,
Yulu Zhou,
Qing Hou
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.60.106601
Subject(s) - helium , helium atom , tungsten , atomic physics , molecular dynamics , cluster (spacecraft) , materials science , diffusion , binding energy , physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics , computer science , metallurgy , programming language
The helium behavior in tungsten matrix is investigated by means of molecular dynamics. Firstly, the He-W potential is created by combining the ZBL potential with the data from an ab intio method. The formation energy calculations predict that the most stable configuration for helium in interstitial position is the tetrahedral site, which is in good agreement with recent research results. The helium diffusion is simulated in great detail in a temperature range from 400 K to 1200 K, and the migration energy is obtained to be between the experimental data and the ab intio calculation result. Finally, the mechanism of helium accumulation in its initial stage is investigated from the viewpoint of energy. It is found that as the helium cluster grows, the binding energy of each additional helium atom to the cluster tends to increase, which is conducible to the further growth of the helium cluster.