Color-center formation in x-ray and electron-irradiated magnesium aluminate spinel
Abstract
We have studied the formation of color centers in magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) by X-ray and electron irradiations near room temperature (RT). For this purpose, CuKet61537; radiation and three electron energies (1.0, 1.4, and 2.5 MeV) were used for variable fluences (up to 4.2x1018 cm-2). Off-line UV-visible optical absorption spectra were recorded at RT. Low temperature measurements down to 27 K were also carried out off line after electron irradiation. The dependence of the production rate of F0 centers (neutral oxygen vacancies) on the electron energy yields a threshold displacement energy for oxygen atoms of 190 et61617; 10 eV at RT, that is much higher than the determinations by molecular-dynamics simulations. Such a discrepancy is discussed on the basis of available migration data of point defects in spinel. Moreover, the evolution of the width of color-center absorption bands versus temperature from 27 K to 250 K is interpreted with the classical theory for F centers (neutral halogen vacancies) in alkali halides. Large Stokes shifts like for the alkaline-earth oxides are deduced from the temperature dependence of the absorption band widths of color centers.