Spectroscopy of radiation-induced and structural defects in garnet crystals with V and Cr impurity ions

The optical absorption spectra of crystals with garnet structure (A3B2C3O12), containing V or Cr impurity ions, before and after oxidation annealing, γ irradiation, and coactivation with Ca and Mg ions have been experimentally and theoretically investigated. It is shown that V3+ and Cr4+ ions are incorporated into both octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the garnet lattice. The absorption spectra and energy level diagrams of impurity ions are identified.