Study of radiation damage in quartz single crystals irradiated with protons

The effect of proton irradiation on quartz single crystals is studied. Positron diagnostics (the angular distribution of annihilation photons (ADAP)) and acoustical and spectrophotometric methods are used to study radiation-induced defects. It is shown that a narrow component with intensity f in the ADAP spectrum is caused by parapositronium and determines the high sensitivity of the method used in studying special features of the quartz crystal structure. In this case, any process leading to a decrease in the probability of positrinium (Ps) formation (the capture of positrons by charged defects and the interaction with impurity ions and lattice distortions) decreases the intensity of the narrow component. The concentration of radiation-induced defects is estimated and their kinetics of annealing up to 873 K is studied.