Infrared photoluminescence of preexisting or irradiation-induced interstitial oxygen molecules in glassy and α-quartz

A sensitive technique for detecting interstitial (Formula presented) molecules in (Formula presented) is demonstrated by measuring their infrared (Formula presented) luminescence at 1272.2 nm under a Ti-sapphire laser excitation into the (Formula presented) absorption band at 765 nm. Contrary to the case of (Formula presented) trapped in inert gas matrices, the visible emission of (Formula presented) corresponding to the direct (Formula presented) transition is not found. Examination of different neutron- and gamma-irradiated glassy (Formula presented) and α-quartz samples reveals radiation-induced interstitial oxygen molecules in concentrations between (Formula presented) and (Formula presented) The radiolytic (Formula presented) molecules in α-quartz and glassy (Formula presented) experience different structural environments.