Color centers in topaz: comparison between neutron and gamma irradiation

Neutron- and gamma irradiation-induced paramagnetic centers in natural colorless topaz from four different Brazilian localities were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption as a function of irradiation dose and thermal treatment. Gamma irradiation doses were applied up to 1,000 kGy with a dose rate of 15 kGy h⁻¹. For the neutron irradiation experiments, a neutron flux of 4 × 10¹² cm⁻² s⁻¹ was used with an integrated flux of up to 1 × 10¹⁸ cm⁻². From the experiments, it is concluded that brownish colors are induced by gamma-rays and may be associated with a single broad isotropic EPR line with g = 2.015(2). Both the EPR line and the related optical absorption band at 460 nm (2.7 eV) are lost during thermal treatments between 150 and 200°C. Fast neutrons create the paramagnetic peroxyl radicals O₂ ⁻ and the paramagnetic O⁻ hole centers. The O⁻ centers have the same thermal stability as the optical absorption band at 620 nm (2.0 eV). It is confirmed that the absorption due to the O⁻ center is responsible for the blue color in topaz. Both color centers and their absorption bands are discussed in the context of O⁻ bound small polarons.