Helium bubble formation in nuclear glass by in-situ TEM ion implantation

The effect of helium implantation fluences in French nuclear borosilicate glass on He bubble
nucleation and growth mechanisms was characterised using in-situ TEM experiments. Observations of implanted glass at 143K indicate that a helium concentration of around 3 at.% is required to nucleate a significant density of nanosized bubbles. He bubble growth is observed for He concentration higher than the estimated number of helium host (> 4 at.%). These results highlight the large capacity of the glassy
network for incorporating helium atoms