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Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements of the vibrational frequencies in δ-Zr hydride containing uranium, ZrH 1.6 U 0.32 , have been performed in the range of high temperatures (between 293 and 973 K) at the DIN-2PI time-of-flight spectrometer at the IBR-2 pulsed reactor of JINR, Dubna. From the temperature dependence of the generalized vibrational density of states (GVDS), information on the H potential has been obtained. Also the high frequency limit of lattice vibrations as well as the frequency of optical vibrations have been studied as functions of temperature. Starting from basic properties, the main thermodynamic functions, the characteristic Debye and Einstein temperatures and the total specific heat have been derived.

The vibrational frequencies of D in δ and e deuterides of Zr have been measured by inelastic neutron scattering. From the experimental data analyzed in terms of the generalized vibrational density of states new information on the H(D) potential in Zr have been obtained. Performing an accurate analysis of the high energy range of scattering spectra, the distribution of D atoms on the available interstitial sites in fcc and fct Zr lattices has been studied.

The inelastic neutron scattering (INS) on ZrHx systems (x=0.38, 0.52 and 0.80) revealed low-frequency excitations located within the energy range 2–10 meV. Besides the lattice vibrations specific to α-HCP metallic Zr and γ-FCO Zr hydride, the fine structure of these excitations is clearly observed. The origin of the new observed peaks is not very clear but a proton tunneling or a resonance effect in α-Zr lattice could be taken into account.