First-principles pseudopotential calculations are reported for the lattice
distortion and electronic properties of the Al substitutional defect in alp
ha quartz. We determine microscopical properties of the center such as Al c
oordination, symmetry of the distorted lattice and defect-induced electroni
c states. The localization properties of the electronic spin density of thi
s paramagnetic color center are investigated. Our results show that the spi
n density is evenly distributed on the four oxygen nearest neighbors to Al
in contrast to phenomenological model results.