Radiation damage caused by swift heavy ions in CaF2 single crystals.

The radiation-induced optical absorption in a wide spectral region of 1.5–10 eV have been investigated in nominally pure CaF 2 single crystals irradiated at 295 K with 0.23 GeV Xe 132 or 2.38 GeV Bi 209 ions (fluences of 10 11 −10 14 ions/cm 2 ) providing an extremely high density of electronic excitations. The stepwise annealing of the radiation-induced optical absorption have been analysed at the heating of irradiated crystals up to 1023 K and accompanying thermally stimulated luminescence has been detected at 300–750 K. The origin of several absorption bands (incl. vacuum ultraviolet region), the possible creation mechanisms of the corresponding radiation defects as well as the difference in radiation damage caused by Xe 132 or Bi 209 ions have been considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]