Effects of radiation on vitreous silica

Vitreous silicas were irradiated using a 60Co γ source to doses ranging from 0.5 to 10 Grads. Samples include both pure and doped silicas. Some of the samples were saturated with high pressure H2 prior to irradiation. The formation and annealing behavior of the various radiation defects and radiation induced bound hydrogen species are reported. The corresponding changes in physical properties such as density and refractive index are also included