Spectral hole-burning study of radiation-induced defects in diamond

In this paper an overview on the spectroscopic and spectral hole-burning pr operties of radiation-induced spectral lines in nitrogen-containing diamond s is given. Special attention has been paid to the defects with the 774 and 813 nm zero-phonon lines that are suitable for room temperature spectral h ole burning. The temperature dependence of the widths of the homogeneous li nes is carefully examined. Persistent spectral hole burning in these lines is demonstrated at T = 100, 200 and 300 K. The creation of these colour cen tres dependent on irradiation and annealing parameters in different types o f diamonds is investigated. Assumptions about the nitrogen content of the c entres are made on the basis of these investigations. The possibility of pr oducing the 774 and 813 nm centres in synthetic diamonds is shown and the o ptimal parameters are given.