Optical absorption measurements were performed on γ-irradiated (60Co) commercial soda-lime silicate glasses at room temperature in order to detect and characterize the induced radiation damage. Isothermal bleaching (293-723K) of the radiation-induced defects was then carried out. Three absorption bands could be distinguished, for wavelengths ranging from 250 to 1800nm, in glasses which contained various amounts of glass-network modifier (Na2O, K2O) and multivalent transition metal cation (Fe2+/Fe3+, Ni2+ and/or Mn2+). Unlike the case of electron-type color centers which were detected at low temperatures in X-irradiated nominally-pure Na silicates, it was proposed that the absorption bands found for γ-irradiated soda-lime silicate glasses were induced by hole-type color centers which were related to non-bridging O ions that were located in various surroundings.

Optical Studies in Gamma-Irradiated Commercial Soda-Lime Silicate Glasses. M.Suszynska, B.Macalik: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2001, 179[3], 383-8