Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 March 2011
Infrared absorption measurements have been used to study the radiation response of various hydroxyl point defects present in natural quartz crystals in their unswept, Na-swept, and H-swept conditions for “low-H” and “high-H” samples with similar aluminum concentration. The irradiation was done at 77 K, 300 K, and finally again at 77 K in sequence. At low-temperature irradiation the Al-OH− bands equalize in their intensity-like H-swept or prior 300 K-irradiated cultured quartz. Among other major bands the alkali-related centers show a reduction in their strength at all stages of irradiation. Purely H-related centers show no steady-state room temperature effects; only the low-temperature irradiation reduces their band strength. The results have been discussed in terms of proton and alkali ion motion to shallow and deep traps and compared with cultured quartz.