TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF THE X-RAY-INDUCED LUMINESCENCE OF QUARTZ CRYSTALS

The X-ray induced luminescence (RL) of synthetic electronic grade quartz crystals was found to emit at 2.4, 2.8 and 3.2 eV. Drops in the intensity of the RL were observed under suitable conditions of excitation at 100-150, 150-200, 200-270 and 350-450 K (stages I to IV respectively). Short (1 s) X-irradiations of a "virgin" sample gave the stage II RL for all the emission bands. The 2.4 and 2.8 eV bands exhibited also the stage I drop. The 3.2 eV gave under suitable excitation also the stage III RL (after preirradiation near room temperature) and stage IV (following preirradiation in the range 300-500 K). The 3.2 eV RL at stage III was found to be associated with the production of [SiO4/Li+]+ centers [5,6], and stage IV RL seems to be associated with the trapping of Li+ ions at unspecified more stable [X/Li+]+ centers [9].