Optical analysis of X-ray effects on Ag+-doped strontium-fluoride crystals

The optical and paramagnetic properties of X-irradiated silver doped SrF2 c rystals were investigated. The freshly irradiated crystals show a complex a bsorption spectrum between approximately 200 and 650 nm. Subsequently, syst ematic heat treatments were applied and absorption, photoluminescence and i ts polarization dependence, thermo- and radio-luminescence experiments have been undertaken. The resulting experimental data were mutually correlated with the aid of the factor analysis technique and six different origins of the observed spectra were identified, Models of the underlying silver-defec t structures are discussed and crystal preparation is further presented. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.