Electron traps in irradiated alkaline glasses at 77 K studied by stimulated luminescence

Abstract

The results of stimulated luminescence studies at 77 K on photoionized tryptophan or tyrosine in alkaline ices or on γ-irradiated alkaline ices reveal that (1) the luminescence emission results from neutralization of bleached electrons with parent cations whose concentration is much more dilute (10−5–10−3M) than that of the alkaline ions (10M); (2) spatial heterogeneous distribution of OH− exists prior to irradiation in alkaline ices. There are zones where OH− concentration is higher than in others; (3) complementary to the optical absorption and ESR techniques, the stimulated luminescence method can serve to identify negative species other than solvated electrons stabilized in alkaline ices, namely, H− and possibly O=.