Abstract
The energy required to displace Zn atoms in ZnTe by irradiation with energetic electrons has been measured. Above an electron beam energy of 185 keV, corresponding to a maximum recoil energy of 7.35 eV for Zn atoms, the near‐band‐edge cathodoluminescence is observed to increase in intensity with increasing fluence. This rate of increase is proportional to the square of the electron beam energy near the displacement threshold.