The Effect of Gamma-Ray Irradiation on the Dielectric Properties of Single Crystals of Sodium Nitrite

Abstract

Single crystals of sodium nitrite were irradiated with Co⁶⁰ gamma-ray and radiation-induced change in dielectric properties were measured. The depression of the Curie temperature, the decrease of the maximum dielectric constant, the increase of the coercive field, the appearance of weak double hysteresis loop, the increase of the electrical conductivity and the change in its activation energy were observed as the results of the irradiation. The optical absorption spectrum of the irradiated specimen showed a broad band about 400 mμ which was assigned to neutral nitrite.