Structure, Properties, Point Defects and Radiation Defect Formation in Magnesium Oxide Crystals

The interpretation of any processes occurring in a solid under radiation exposure should be based on the available information on the fundamental properties of the substance under study, on a clear definition of the boundaries within which it is legitimate to transfer any ideas developed for a different type of solid. To this end, this section briefly considers the main crystal-physical properties, the band structure, and the dominant types of defects in the crystal lattice of MgO single crystals.