Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 February 2011
We have performed electronic structure studies on two neutral oxygen vacancies in crystalline silicon dioxide. The idealized beta-crystobalite structure has been used as a model for the host perfect crystal. The calculations have been carried out by representing the host-defect system as a large cluster of atoms which is properly. embedded into the host crystal, with a Gaussian orbital basis used to describe the electronic states of the host and defect systems. The local density approximation with and without the self-interaction correction has been used in these calculations.