Luminescence of F2 and F3 + centres in LiF crystals irradiated with 12 MeV 12C ions

Abstract

Dependences of the nanohardness and photoluminescence of F 2 and F 3 + centers on the depth in LiF crystals irradiated with 12 MeV 12 C ions to fluences 10 10 -10 15 ions/cm 2 were studied using laser scanning confocal microscopy, luminescent spectroscopy, and the nanoindentation method. The nanohardness measurements showed a significant hardening effect at the end of the ion run with the dominant contribution of defects formed by the mechanism of elastic collisions. The observed attenuation of the luminescence intensity at high fluences is associated with the intense nucleation of dislocations as traps for aggregate color centers.