Detection of interstitial oxygen molecules in SiO2 glass by a direct photoexcitation of the infrared luminescence of singlet O-2

The presence of interstitial oxygen molecules in glassy SiO2 has been demonstrated directly by 1064.1 nm (p '' = 0) --> (v' = 1) excitation of the forbidden O-2 molecule (1) Delta(g)(v' = 0) --> (3) Sigma(g)(v '' = 0) luminescence transition at 1272 nm in Suprasil W1 fused silica. The interstitial Oz molecules, introduced into glass network during the synthesis process, are destroyed by vacuum ultraviolet or neutron irradiation. Mobile O atoms may play an important role in radiation processes in SiO2. The directly photoexcited luminescence of O-2 could be used to detect the presence of O-2 in other solid state matrices as well.