Model for ionization-induced conductivity in pure insulators

When ionizing radiation interacts with insulating material the electrical conductivity and properties are changed significantly. The physics of this problem can be separated into a sequence of chronological steps. 1. The interaction of the radiation with the material to which releases electrons from bound states producing free carriers (presumably both electrons and holes). 2. The motion of carriers under the influence of electric fields (drift) or density gradients (diffusion). 3. Trapping of the carriers at defect sites having shallow energy levels. The energy level is considered to be shallow if during the course of the experiment there is a reasonable probability for the trapped carrier to be released by thermal energy. 4. The thermal release of the carriers trapped at shallow sites. 5. Trapping of carriers at deep sites. 6. Eventual carrier recombination.