Impurity and radiation defects in LiB3O5 crystals. The nature of centers in LiB3O5 crystals,which are responsible for coloration during the long-term operation of optical elements

An attempt is made to explain the causes of coloration of LiB₃O₅ crystals after their long-term operation as laser elements. By EPR and optical spectroscopy the impurity and radiation centers are studied in as-grown LiB₃O₅ crystals and in the crystals whose color appeared after the long-term operation as laser elements. In a number of as-grown crystals a copper impurity is detected. EPR spectral parameters and the structural positions of Cu²⁺ ions are found. Defect formation features in electron irradiated as-grown LiB₃O₅ crystals and in the most colored regions of crystals of spent laser elements are analyzed. It is shown that in both growth crystals and crystals after long-term operation as laser elements the same set of radiation defects is observed: oxygen O^– in the interstitial position, an O^– hole center in the crystal structure, and the B²⁺ electron center due to the removal of an oxygen atom near the lithium vacancy. The only distinction is that the concentration of these radiation defects in crystals long used as laser elements is higher than that in growth ones by an order of magnitude. The results obtained enable the conclusion that the cause of coloration of LiB₃O₅ crystals is photo-induced diffusion of lithium atoms and their capture by cation vacancies in the dark part of the crystal, which provides the formation and accumulation of lithium vacancies in the region where the laser beam passes.