Boson peak in neutron-irradiated quartz crystal

Abstract In this paper we present Raman measurements in the low-frequency range from 15 to 150 cm −1 , which were performed in quartz crystal irradiated with fast neutron (irradiation dose 4.7×10 19  n/cm 2 ). This dose leaves the sample mainly crystalline (70%). Our measurements revealed the presence of the boson peak at 60 cm −1 . The soft-potential model explains the boson peak in amorphous solids by the inelastic scattering of light by soft quasilocal harmonic oscillators (HO). Our observation shows that the irradiation dose 4.7×10 19  n/cm 2 is sufficient to create a concentration of quasilocal HO, which is necessary for the appearance of the boson peak.