ESR and ESR-imaging of heavily irradiated alkali halide crystals

An investigation of the formation and properties of small metal particles in electron-irradiated alkali halide crystals by the ESR method was carried out. The behavior of ESR lines and ESR-imaging from the moment of appearance of the metallic particles in irradiated NaCl, NaCl:OH and LiF crystals is studied. The magnetic spin susceptibility and the line-width has been found to depend on dose and temperature. The ESR results are compared with a theoretical model and some conclusions made about the existence of a metal-insulator transition in irradiated crystals.