Effect of γ-irradiation on mechanically activated and on non-activated LiF

By means of EPR spectroscopy lattice defects have been investigated, which had been produced in OH- containing LiF by mechanical activation and subsequent irradiation (mainly γ-irradiation). The structure of irradiation-induced hydrogen centers shows characteristic differences dependent on the kind of LiF: H/sub s//sup 0/ (hydrogen atoms in anion vacancies) are created in mechanically activated LiF powders, whereas H/sub i//sup 0/ (hydrogen atoms in interstitial positions) in LiF single crystals. In both the cases also F centers are produced besides other paramagnetic defects. The observed defects can be used for an estimation of the degree of distortion in mechanically activated LiF. (author)