Radiation-induced conductivity of alkali halide crystals in strong electric fields under X-ray and photoexcitation

A study is undertaken into radiation-induced conductivity of alkali halide crystals under X-ray excitation and sequential excitation with X-ray and laser pulses within the absorption band of F-and F ^?-centers. The basic conduction parameters (concentration and lifetime of carriers upon X-ray and photoexcitation) are estimated. The possible processes responsible for the nonlinearity of the current-voltage characteristics are discussed. It is shown that an increase in the conductivity in strong electric fields may be due to a decrease in the spatial localization of electrons in the conduction band of the insulator.