ERD FACILITY FOR ANALYSIS OF HYDROGEN AND DEUTERIUM IN SOLIDS

Hydrogen is the lightest element in nature, and so, its detection and quantitative analysis is difficult by the conventional methods utilize d for other elements. In the recent years the technique of elastic rec oil detection analysis (ERD) using 1-2 MeV He+ beam has been developed to quantitatively and simultaneously analyze hydrogen and its isotope s in solids. Such a facility has been set up using the 2 MeV Van-de-Gr aaff accelerator at IIT Kanpur. It facilitates H and D analysis in a m aterial up to a depth of similar to 1 mu m with a detection sensitivit y of 0.1 at.% and depth resolution of about 300 Angstrom. The applicat ion potential of this setup is illustrated by presenting the results o f measurements performed on Al:H:D systems prepared by plasma source i on implantation and high TcYBCO pellets exposed to humid atmosphere.