Color Centers in MgO: Ni Induced by Neutron Irradiation

Abstract

New absorption bands at 365 and 460 nm are introduced in Ni doped MgO single crystals irradiated by reactor neutrons. The 365 and 460 nm band intensities increase proportionally with neutron dose and connected intimately with the quantity of doped Ni ions. It is suggested to assign the 365 and 460 nm bands to the Ni ion center associated with a vacancy or an irradiation defect in the MgO crystal.