Luminescence of polymorph crystalline and glassy SiO2, GeO2: A short review

Studies of SiO₂ and GeO₂ crystals with α-quartz and rutile structures were performed during last two decades. The goal of such studies was comparison of properties with those of glassy modifications of these crystals. Luminescence of oxygen deficient centers in these glassy materials was found to resemble the luminescence of the rutile-type modification rather than α-quartz modification. In α-quartz, similar luminescence centers appear after damaging irradiation by electron beam at low temperatures (<60 K) or at ambient temperatures after gamma or neutron irradiation.