Static electric field gradients and associated magnetic-resonance line-shape changes due to a random distribution of point defects

Abstract

The distribution function for static electric field gradients arising from a random distribution of point defects in a crystal is studied. Results are obtained which include the magnitude as well as angular, concentration, and sample shape dependences for field gradients due to low concentrations of different types of point defects. The induced changes in frequency and time-domain spin-resonance line shapes are particularly simple if the only effect of the field gradients is to locally shift the spin energy levels. In this limit different types of defects cause characteristic line-shape changes which should be distinguishable.