Absorption and infrared spectra of gamma irradiated ternary silicate glasses containing cobalt

Optical and infrared absorption spectra of undoped ternary silicate and CoO doped glasses were measured before and after successive gamma ray irradiation. The results obtained revealed the existence of cobalt ions mainly in tetrahedral coordination in such host glasses. The radiation- induced defects created by gamma irradiation are related to intrinsic effect of the glass constituents and extrinsic effect due to the cobalt ions. The response of the glass to irradiation and the growth rate of colour center formation are related to the equilibrium between the formation and annihilation processes of induced colour centers and the saturation or equilibrium state reached by successive irradiation. (author)