Annealing of electron damage in Mid-IR transmitting fluoride glass

Abstract

Damage in ZrF 4-BaF 2-LaF 3 glass induced by high energy electrons was studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) and optical spectroscopy. An optical absorption band at 314 nm in the irradiated glass annealed rapidly above about 50°C, probably by a second-order reaction at room temperature; the ESR lines annealed very slowly at room temperature.