Point defects in hexagonal boron nitride. III. EPR in electron-irradiated BN

Abstract

A new paramagnetic center was produced by 550-kV electrons in hexagonal boron nitride. It is shown that this center is a three-boron center and consists of an electron trapped in a nitrogen-ion vacancy ($F$ center). The hyperfine interaction was found to be anisotropic with ${A}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}=40.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5$ G and ${A}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}}=45.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5$ G for the interaction with $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ nuclei. The $g$ factor was found to be $g=2.0020\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0008$. The thermal stability of this center was investigated.