DETECTION OF INTERSTITIAL OXYGEN MOLECULES IN SIO2 GLASS BY A DIRECT PHOTOEXCITATION OF THE INFRARED LUMINESCENCE OF SINGLET O-2

The presence of interstitial oxygen molecules in glassy SiO2 has been demonstrated directly by 1064.1 nm (p '' = 0) --> (v' = 1) excitation of the forbidden O-2 molecule (1) Delta(g)(v' = 0) --> (3) Sigma(g)(v '' = 0) luminescence transition at 1272 nm in Suprasil W1 fused silica . The interstitial Oz molecules, introduced into glass network during the synthesis process, are destroyed by vacuum ultraviolet or neutron irradiation. Mobile O atoms may play an important role in radiation pr ocesses in SiO2. The directly photoexcited luminescence of O-2 could b e used to detect the presence of O-2 in other solid state matrices as well.