RADIATION-INDUCED PROCESSES AT THE SURFACE OF ALPHA-LIIO3 SINGLE-CRYSTALS

Radiation-induced degradation processes at the surface of nonlinear-op tical alpha-LiIO3 single crystals are investigated. Under gamma-irradi ation, two types of microcrystals, ''normal'' and ''filamentary,'' are formed at the crystal surface. Normal microcrystals are believed to b e formed as a result of solid-phase recrystallization caused by irradi ation. Filamentary microcrystals are enriched with impurity centers. T he evolution of the microcrystals is studied in a wide dose range. The growth of optical density in the dose range 0.1 to 1 MGy is caused by light scattering from the filamentary and normal microcrystals.