The production of energy through nuclear fusion poses serious challenges related to the stability and performance of materials in extreme conditions. In particular, the constant bombardment of the walls of the reactor with high doses of He ions is known to lead to deleterious changes in their microstructures. These changes follow from the aggregation of He into bubbles that can grow and blister, potentially leading to the contamination of the plasma, or to the degradation of their mechanical properties. We computationally study the behavior of small clusters of He atoms in W in conditions relevant to fusion energy production. Using a wide range of techniques, we investigate the thermodynamics of the clusters and their kinetics in terms of diffusivity, growth, and breakup, as well as mutation into nanobubbles. Our study provides the essential ingredients to model the early stages of He exposure leading up to the nucleation of He bubbles.

• Received 20 March 2014
• Revised 23 June 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.014102