The correlation of the 7.6 eV optical absorption band in pure fused silicon dioxide with twofold-coordinated silicon

Abstract The optical absorption band at 7.6 eV, which appears in oxygen deficient pure silica, does not correlate with any ESR signal in non-irradiated samples. Longlasting illumination at 80 K in the range of its absorption leads to an increase of the absorption band at 5 eV. Subsequent heating to 290 K restores the initial absorption. These data can be explained as photodissociation and thermal recreation of a complex defect containing a twofold-coordinated silicon defect. This complex defect is responsible for the 7.6 eV absorption band.