EPR study of Yb-doped irradiated glasses

Yb3+ reduction under β and γ irradiation has been studied in aluminoborosilicate glasses by EPR spectroscopy. From the Yb3+ EPR line variation, we demonstrate that more than one Yb3+ sites coexist in the pristine Yb-doped glasses. Reduction of Yb3+ into Yb2+ is observed for all integrated doses and Yb doping contents. For doses higher than 108 Gy, an Yb3+ ion environment change occurs, this change is correlated with a stabilization of the reduced Yb2+ state. The paramagnetic defect concentration displays a linear variation as a function of the logarithm of the dose. The glass doping with Yb2O3 leads to a substantial decrease of the defect concentration as well as a modification in the relative proportion of the defects produced. In particular, Yb doping tends to increase the relative content of Oxy defects.