F -center stabilization process in the first coloring stage of alkali halide crystals

Detailed measurements of the first-stage F-coloring and F-thermal-annealing curves between 15 and 65^∘{}C indicate a clear correlation between the structure of the F-coloring curve, the F-thermal-annealing steps, and the thermoluminescence. A model based on interstitial trapping gives a concise physical picture for these processes and permits a unified treatment for the phenomena, which clarifies the complex problem of the temperature and dose-rate dependence in F-coloring curves.