Defect-related relaxation processes in irradiated rare gas solids

Electronic and atomic relaxation processes in preirradiated solid Ar doped with N₂ were studied with a focus on the role of radiative electronic transitions in relaxation cascades. Combining methods of activation spectroscopy -thermally stimulated and photon-stimulated exoelectron emission, a new channel of relaxation induced by photon emission from metastable N atoms was detected. It was shown that in insulating materials with a wide conduction band photons of visible range can release electrons from both kinds of traps - shallow (lattice defects) and deep thermally disconnected ones. Correlation in the charge recombination reaction yield and the yield of low temperature desorption - important relaxation channel in a preirradiated solid - clearly demonstrates interconnection between atomic and electronic processes of relaxation.