Hydrogen is the smallest impurity atom that can be implanted in a
metallic host. Its small mass and strong interaction with the host
electrons and nuclei are responsible for many anomalous and interesting
solid state effects. In addition, hydrogen in metals gives rise to a
number of technological problems such as hydrogen embrittlement,
hydrogen storage, radiation hardening, first wall problems associated
with nuclear fusion reactors, and degradation of the fuel cladding in
fission reactors. Both the fundamental effects and applied problems have
stimulated a great deal of inter- est in the study of metal hydrogen
systems in recent years. This is evident from a growing list of
publications as well as several international conferences held in this
field during the past decade. It is clear that a fundamental
understanding of these problems re- quires a firm knowledge of the basic
interactions between hydrogen, host metal atoms, intrinsic lattice
defects and electrons. This understanding is made particularly difficult
by hyrogen's small mass and by the large lattice distortions that
accompany the hydrogenation process. The purpose of the "International
Symposium on the Electronic Structure and Properties of Hydrogen in
Metals" held in Richmond, Virginia, March 4-6, 1982 was to increase our
fundamental under- standing of hydrogen in metals. Such knowledge is
essential in solving technologically important questions. The symposium
con- sisted of twenty-two invited papers and seventy-two contributed
poster presentations and attracted nearly 150 participants from thirteen
countries. The proceedings of this symposium constitute this book.