Identification of paramagnetic species in silver-doped barium-germanium-gallium glass exposed to electron irradiation

Ionizing irradiation was performed on barium-germanium-gallium (BGG) glasses using a 2.5 MeV electron beam. Through electron spin resonance spectroscopy, paramagnetic point defects, such as germanium- and gallium-related electron and hole trap centers, have been identified. The presence of silver in the BGG glass appears to hinder the stability of these defects at lower energy doses (10⁴ Gy), with silver becoming the main trapping center. At higher energy doses (10⁶ Gy), the glass undergoes structural modifications, hindering the trapping process of silver ions. Additionally, we evidence the importance of alkaline elements such as potassium and sodium on silver ions trapped centers’ formation.