Radiation Defect Formation in Lithium Fluoride Nanocrystals and Crystals in an Atmospheric-Pressure Glow Discharge

The photoluminescence of lithium fluoride nanocrystals and crystals placed on the anode of an atmospheric-pressure glow discharge in helium and exposed to the discharge components was studied. The luminescence spectra showed that color centers with new properties inherent to near-cluster centers were formed in unannealed nanocrystals after exposure to the discharge. However, the conditions necessary for formation of near-cluster centers were eliminated upon annealing of the nanocrystals. These necessary conditions were partially restored when annealed nanocrystals were exposed to the discharge. This opened new possibilities for elucidating the processes and mechanisms of formation of centers with new properties.