Relaxation Induced by Gamma Rays

Structural modifications induced by gamma rays have been studied for several decades, in particular for applications in dosimetry [37-39, 79, 80]. It is known that gamma rays can induce bonding rearrangements through the formation of coordination defects. 

The types of uncontrolled relaxation processes described in this section are usually considered detrimental in glass technology, and they tend to be avoided as they modify the physical properties of sensitive devices. However, fast structural relaxation induced by laser light or gamma irradiation can be exploited for useful purposes and can actually find some technological applications, as will be discussed in the following section. 

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