SOME PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF GAMMA-IRRADIATED ALKALI-SILICATE GLASSES

The effects of gamma-irradiation on absorption spectra, density, refra ctive index and electrical conductivity of glasses containing differen t impurities substituting for silica have been measured for absorbed d oses in the range 5.4-54 KGy. The observed changes in the measured par ameters, is explained in terms of the irradiation-induced diffusion or lattice atoms, exchange of lattice positions and displacement of inte rstitial vacancy pairs. The results are also discussed in light of the known effects of radiation in the rupture and information of bonds an d prevention of small scale atomic rearrangements. The optical energy gap (E(opt)) was found to decrease with the increase of the radiation dose, and it is suggested that the mechanism or optical transition is forbidden by indirect transition.