Effect of oxygen impurity on the efficiency of the formation of complexes with H-bond and aggregation of color centers in lithium fluoride

The effect of impurities on the efficiency of the formation of color centers and hydrogen-bonded molecular complexes upon exposure to various radiations in lithium fluoride crystals grown in air is studied. The results of experiments for measuring optical properties, IR vibrational spectra, luminescence, and thermally stimulated luminescence are presented. The fact that the band in the range of 1800–2300 cm$^{-1}$ corresponds to stretching vibrations of a complex with strong hydrogen bond is proved based on the Fermi-resonance perturbation in the region of 2080 cm$^{-1}$, shaped as the Evans hole and bands $A$, $B$, and $C$. It is shown that the composition of these complexes includes an OH$^-$ ion and an HF molecule. The crucial role of O$^{2-}V_{a}^{+}$ a oxygen dipoles in the aggregation efficiency and gradient distribution of color centers and radiation resistance of hydroxyl ions is revealed. It is shown that products of radiation decomposition of OH$^-$ ions stimulate, while decay of O$^{2-}V_{a}^{+}$ dipoles suppress, the formation of positively charged color centers.