Trapping of electrons in irradiated ice

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Abstract
It is known that the formation of colour centres in irradiated ice is due to trapped electrons. The hypothesis is put forward that the electrons are trapped in vacancies created by the radiation-induced decomposition of water molecules in the hydrogen-bonded ice structure and displacement of the molecular fragments by (focused) collisions in the lattice. If an electron occupies such a vacancy, rotation of (two) adjacent water molecules or diffusion of Bjerrum defects induced by the field of the electron should give an efficient trap. It can also be shown that the formation of such a cavity for trapping the electron appears to be essential on energetic grounds. It is suggested that basically a similar trapping mechanism is operative in other hydrogen bonded solids and liquids.