6533b7d2fe1ef96bd125e02f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Stabilization of primary mobile radiation defects in MgF2 crystals

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Abstract Non-radiative decay of the electronic excitations (excitons) into point defects ( F – H pairs of Frenkel defects) is main radiation damage mechanism in many ionic (halide) solids. Typical time scale of the relaxation of the electronic excitation into a primary, short-lived defect pair is about 1–50 ps with the quantum yield up to 0.2–0.8. However, only a small fraction of these primary defects are spatially separated and survive after transformation into stable, long-lived defects. The survival probability (or stable defect accumulation efficiency) can differ by orders of magnitude, dependent on the material type; e.g. ∼10% in alkali halides with f.c.c. or b.c.c. structure, 0.1% in rutile MgF 2 and 2 (Me: Ca, Sr, Ba). The key factor determining accumulation of stable radiation defects is stabilization of primary defects, first of all, highly mobile hole H centers, through their transformation into more complex immobile defects. In this talk, we present the results of theoretical calculations of the migration energies of the F and H centers in poorely studied MgF 2 crystals with a focus on the H center stabilization in the form of the interstitial F 2 molecules which is supported by presented experimental data.