The paper presents the results of study of dynamics of electronic exci
tations in BeO crystals with defects. The results were gained mainly b
y the use of spectroscopy of transient optical absorption under excita
tion with an electron beam. Origin of the absorption centers, and role
of the localized states in the electronic excitation dynamics of BeO
are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.