Colour centres induced in LiF by low-energy electrons

A detailed study has been carried out on the optical properties of intrinsic colour centres, created in LiF crystals under irradiation with low-penetration 3 keV electrons. The kinetics of the production of F and M centres, determined from optical absorption measurements, exhibits a typical three-stage structure and an evident saturation at high doses. The quantitative evaluation of the kinetic parameters is in excellent agreement with the predictions of the most comprehensive theoretical model. A comparison of the effects of irradiation at different temperatures, determined from absorption and photoluminescence spectra, allows one to deduce the conditions for preferential formation of F-2 or F-3(+) defects in LiF crystals.