Electron spin resonance was used to study the defects introduced into yttria-stabilized zirconia single crystals by 2.5MeV electron and 2.6GeV U-ion irradiations. In addition to the O- and Zr3+ paramagnetic centers already observed after X-ray irradiation at g = 1.98 and g = 1.89, clear evidence was found for an unknown paramagnetic center at g = 1.96, induced by charged particles. For the O- center, a maximum of the integrated spin intensity occurred near to 50K; thus reflecting some antiferromagnetic spin-pairing effect. Respective contributions of the ionization and atomic displacement processes in defect production were addressed.

Paramagnetic Centers Induced in Cubic Zirconia by 2.5MeV Electron and 2.6GeV Uranium Ion Irradiations. J.M.Costantini, F.Beuneu, R.I.Grynszpan, C.Trautmann: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B, 2002, 191[1-4], 616-21