A Model of Lattice Defects in Sapphire

Abstract

A model is proposed to account for the changes under ultraviolet illumination of several of the prominent optical absorption bands in neutron irradiated crystalline sapphire. This model, based on both new and previously observed photobleaching and predicted optical anisotropic properties of single and paired anion vacancies, assigns absorption and luminescent bands to specific charge states of anion divacancies.