title: Proof of the thermodynamical stability of the E' center in SiO2.
abstract: The E' center is a paradigmatic radiation-induced defect in SiO2 whose peculiar EPR and hyperfine activity has been known for over 40 years. This center has been traditionally identified with a distorted, positively charged oxygen vacancy V(+)O. However, no direct proof of the stability of this defect has ever been provided, so that its identification is still largely incomplete. Here we prove directly that distorted V(+)O is metastable and that it satisfies the key requirements for its identification as E', such as thermal and optical response, and activation-deactivation mechanisms.
authors: INFM and Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, I-09042 Monserrato, CA, Italy.
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Carbonaro
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Fiorentini
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bernardini