Varley Mechanism for Defect Formation in Alkali Halides

The Varley mechanism is examined, according to which Frenkel defects are produced in the halogen sublattice of alkali halides subsequent to multiple ionization of the halide ions. Arguments are presented to show that the lifetime of a positive halogen ion against recapture of electrons in orders of magnitude smaller than the ejection time of the halogen, and thus that the Varley mechanism is inoperative. The arguments may not be applicable for inner shells alone, but experimental evidence is adduced to eliminate this case.

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