Radiation damage in CWO scintillation crystals with different defects

Results are reported on the effects of gamma-radiation upon scintillation characteristics of CdWO
4
(CWO) single crystals with different defects. The defect structure before irradiation determines the radiation-induced changes of the CWO crystals. Radiation effects in CWO crystals were shown to be related to the formation of F-centers. In some CWO samples, the dose of 10
³
Gy caused destruction of defects responsible for induced absorption. Doping by Li leads to reduction of defects responsible for color and trapping centers in CWO crystals. The annealing in a reductive medium (H
2
) or doping with Me
³⁺
significantly increases radiation stability of CWO.