Charge trapping and release in electron and gamma irradiated lead silicate glasses

The thermally stimulated release of charge in electrically polarized and electron and gamma irradiated glasses containing 30 to 50 mol% PbO was investigated between 290 and 450 K. The release of trapped charge in irradiated glasses produced a thermally stimulated current peak which had the same activation energy as the depolarization current peak in electrically polarized specimens. The irradiation induced dielectric breakdown of these glasses was correlated with the quantity of trapped charge and the relaxation time for charge release determined from the thermally stimulated depolarization current. (orig.)