Point defects in lithium triborate (LiB3O5) crystals

Abstract

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electron-nuclear double resonance, optical absorption, and thermoluminescence have been used to investigate radiation-induced point defects in a single crystal of lithium triborate (LiB3O5). Two prominent defects are observed after irradiation near liquid-nitrogen temperature with 60 kV x rays. A four-line EPR spectrum, with 12.2 G splittings, is assigned to a trapped-hole center, and another four-line EPR spectrum, with 120 G splittings, is assigned to a trapped-electron center. In each case, the nucleus responsible for the observed hyperfine is 11B. The trapped hole is localized on an oxygen ion and has a weak hyperfine interaction with one neighboring boron nucleus, whereas the trapped electron is localized primarily on a boron ion with a correspondingly larger hyperfine interaction. Both defects become thermally unstable near 125 K, and their decay (i.e., recombination) correlates with an intense thermoluminescence peak at this same temperature. An optical absorption peak at 300 nm is produced by the x rays and thermally decays at the same temperatures as the EPR spectra.