UV cathodoluminescence of crystalline α-quartz at low temperatures

Two luminescence bands in the UV range were detected in crystalline a-quartzunder electron beam excitation (6 kV, 3–5mA). One band is situated at 5 eV and could be observed in pure samples. Its intensity increases with cooling below 100 K and undergoes saturation below 40 K alongside a slow growth with the time of irradiation at 9 K. The decay curve of the band at 5 eV contains two components, a fast (o10 ns) and a slow one in the range of 200ms. The photoluminescence band at 5 eV with a similar temperature dependence was found in previously neutron-irradiated crystalline a-quartz. Therefore, the band at 5 eV was attributed to host material defects in both irradiation cases. The creation me…