Excitonic mechanisms of inelastic radiation-induced processes in rare-gas solids

The models of permanent lattice defect formation in rare-gas solids are discussed with a focus on a point defect formation in solid Ar. The processes of large-scale atomic displacements induced by electronic excitations were studied using the selective vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy method. The coexistence of intrinsic excitonic mechanism and extrinsic Rydberg state-induced excited-state mechanism of Frenkel defect formation was found.