EPR dosimeter material properties of potassium tartrate hemihydrate

The ability of potassium tartrate hemihydrate as a radiation sensitive material for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry was investigated. The samples were subjected to different doses, in the range of 1–9 Gy of ⁶⁰Co gamma rays at room temperature. The EPR spectra were investigated through variation of signal intensity with respect to absorbed dose, magnetic field modulation amplitude, microwave power and time stability. The results indicate that the sensitivity of potassium tartrate hemihydrate is about 30% higher than that of alanine. However, the EPR signal is timely less stable within the first two weeks after irradiation.     

Signal processing for radiation dosimetry using EPR in dental enamel: comparison of three methods

We are reporting an alternative method of extracting useful dose information from complex EPR spectra of dental enamel. Digital differentiation of the initial first derivative spectrum followed by filtering is used to clearly distinguish the radiation-induced signal from the native background signal. The peak-to-peak height of the resulting second derivative of the signal is then measured as an indication of absorbed dose. This method does not require preliminary elimination of the native background signal, and is not effected by any uncertainty in the determination of the background signal or by errors resulting from the subtraction of two signals of comparable magnitude. Ten enamel samples were irradiated with known doses in the range of 250–10⁵ mGy. There was agreement for all the samples, within the typical experimental error of ±10% for EPR dosimetry in dental enamel, between the doses determined by two common techniques using native signal subtraction and the doses determined by the new second derivative method proposed here.     

EPR and UV spectroscopic investigations of sucrose irradiated with heavy-ion particles

Crystalline sucrose irradiated with C and Si ions is investigated with EPR and UV spectroscopy. Samples are treated at different doses of radiation in the region 20–300 Gy and linear energy transfer (LET) values of 39.6, 49 and 58 keV μm^?1 for C ions and 60 keV μm^?1 for Si ions. All samples exhibit identical EPR spectra due to radiation-induced stable sucrose radicals. At given constant LET the EPR signal responses are linear to the absorbed doses of Si and C ions. Water solutions of irradiated sucrose exhibit UV absorption maximum at 267 nm due to the product of radical recombination. The intensity of this band is stronger at irradiation with Si than with C ions. UV absorption is more sensitive to heavy-ion species irradiation than the EPR signals.     

Thermally stimulated transformation of the EPR spectra in γ-irradiated bone tissue

γ-irradiated bone tissue annealed at different temperatures is studied by EPR. In powder samples the annealing-induced changes of the EPR spectra are mainly determined by sharp growth of a signal caused by the products of thermal decay of an organic component in the tissue. This signal considerably complicates the analysis of the EPR spectrum shape for the annealed samples. On the other hand, in the spectra of the plates of bone tissue a change in the lineshape of the EPR signal from CO₂⁻ radicals after annealing is more pronounced than in powder, and it is attributed to the change in the contributions from axial and orthorhombic CO₂⁻ radicals. The analysis of different radicals concentrations vs. annealing temperature revealed above 210 °C the temperature-induced transformation of orthorhombic CO₂⁻ radicals into axial ones in bone tissue which (together with organic component) is responsible for the changes of EPR lineshape at annealing.     

EPR study of table sugar rod and powder as high dose dosimeters

In order to improve the ease of sample handling, the reproducibility of signal detection and quantification, simple methods of incorporating a homogeneous mixture containing sugar powder (30%) with wax (35%) and rubber (35%) into rods has been adopted. The dose response, the time stability of the free radicals produced in table sugar dosimeters (in both rod and powder form) by gamma radiation and the effect of the temperature during irradiation were studied by EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance). The peak-to-peak height (PPH) measurement of the EPR signal is studied as a function of the absorbed gamma dose in the range 0.1–58 kGy. For the two forms, a linear dependency is found between 0.1 and 26 kGy. At higher doses the EPR signal amplitude continues to grow but non-linear up to 58 kGy. The dependence of temperature during irradiation has been investigated in the temperature range 25–40 °C and the calculated correction coefficients were found (2.7 ± 0.2)% °C^?1 and (1.5 ± 0.3)% °C^?1, respectively, for powder and rod forms. The time stability of the stored sugar samples was investigated for 34 days at room temperature, a rapid decrease of EPR signal was showed immediately after irradiation followed by slowly decrease.     

Feasibility of Q-Band EPR Dosimetry in Biopsy Samples of Dental Enamel, Dentine and Bone

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry of tooth enamel in X-band has been established as a suitable method for individual reconstruction of doses 0.1 Gy and higher. The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of using Q-band EPR in small biopsy tooth enamel samples to provide accurate measurements of radiation doses. Q-band spectra of small (<10 mg) irradiated samples of dentine and bone were studied to investigate the possibility of using Q-band EPR for dose measurements in those materials if there are limited amounts of enamel available, and there is no time for the chemical sample preparation required for accurate X-band measurements in dental enamel. Our results have shown that Q-band provides accurate measurements of radiation doses higher than 0.5 Gy in tooth enamel biopsy samples as small as 2 mg. Q-band EPR spectra in powdered dentine and bone demonstrated significantly higher resolution and sensitivity than in conventional X-band measurements.     

Egyptian limestone for gamma dosimetry: an electron paramagnetic resonance study

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) properties of limestone from a certain Egyptian site were investigated in order to propose an efficient and low-cost gamma dosimeter. Radiation-induced free radicals were of one type which was produced in the limestone samples at g=2.0066 after exposure to gamma radiation (⁶⁰Co). EPR spectrum was recorded and analyzed. The microwave power saturation curve and the effect of changing modulation amplitude on peak-to- peak signal height were investigated. The response of limestone to different radiation doses (0.5–20 kGy) was studied. Except for the decrease in signal intensities during the first five hours following irradiation, over the period of two months fair stabilities of signal intensities were noticed. From the current results, it is possible to conclude that natural limestone may be a suitable material for radiation dosimetry in the range of irradiation processing.     

Radiation Dosimetry Using Alanine and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: A New Look at an Old Topic

The detection and quantification by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of stable radicals formed in alanine by exposure to γ-radiation is used as a secondary standard for radiation dosimetry measurements, even though the EPR signal is actually derived from >1 radical with different spectral properties. For high radiation doses, microwave power saturation and spectral linewidths are both dependent on the received dose, and result in non-linear calibration curves. Furthermore, using a high-sensitivity microwave cavity, the power at which EPR signal saturation commences is ~0.3–0.4 mW for samples with irradiation doses ≤10 kGy; these values are an order of magnitude lower than those normally used in alanine dosimetry. In addition, the central peak of the first derivative spectrum, the height of which is commonly used in dosimetry measurements, is the most susceptible to microwave power saturation. Therefore, for high-level dosimetry we now recommend that analyses be performed under non-saturating conditions, and that the spectral acquisition parameters should be determined with a standard irradiated to ≤10 kGy to eliminate any intensity problems associated with variable saturation characteristics. At low radiation doses, variations in spectral saturation characteristics are negligible, and partially saturating conditions along with modulation amplitudes much higher than those normally used can reliably produce improved signal-to-noise ratios and allow extension of the methodology to practical working limits of ~0.1–0.2 Gy.     

An EPR Study on the Chemical form of Mn2+ in the Chinese Loess Samples

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in combination with thermal methods were used to identify and characterize Mn²⁺ in the Chinese loess that is a multimineral system. EPR spectra of the loess samples from the classic loess-paleosol section in central China show the presence of trace amounts of Mn²⁺; whereas paleosol samples present no Mn²⁺ EPR signal. The spectral changes upon step heating from room temperature to 1000 °C suggest that this EPR signal in the loess arises from Mn substituted into CaCO₃. This study provides a direct evidence that the loess-paleosol profiles were formed under the changing redox conditions caused by a past climatic change.     

EPR study of radiation-induced defects in carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite annealed at high temperature

Radiation-induced (γ or UV) paramagnetic defects in carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (HAP) annealed at high (600–950 °C) temperature were studied by EPR. The complex spectra reveal the presence of different paramagnetic species. Their contributions were found to be strongly dependent on the annealing temperature as well as microwave power, thus, by the adjustment of experimental conditions some of the components can be eliminated that allowed to record EPR spectra caused by no more than two types of paramagnetic defects. All experimental spectra were analyzed using computer simulation. The parameters of the paramagnetic defects detected were determined, and the centers models were discussed. It was found that high-temperature annealing influences essentially the formation of radiation-induced defects in HAP. The СО₃³⁻, О⁻ centers and oxygen vacancy V_O⁻ were shown to be the main stable γ-induced defects in the HAP annealed at high temperatures. New paramagnetic defect with the parameters g_|| = 2.002, g_⊥ = 2.0135 was detected and tentatively identified as an O-related radical. The γ-induced EPR response from СО₃³⁻ radicals was found to be more intense than response from CO₂⁻ in non-annealed HAP. UV-irradiation was found to create smaller amounts of paramagnetic defects in comparison with γ-rays. Besides, oxygen vacancy V_O⁻ was not observed, while two other centers (СО₃⁻ and the center of unknown nature) appear in the UV-induced EPR spectra.     

Radiation dose reconstruction and nuclear-explosion dating in the East-Kazakhstan region

The radioecological situation in the East-Kazakhstan region was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), radiography and nuclear spectroscopy methods. The eastern part of this region borders the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Radiation doses for 33 residents of this region were measured by EPR dosimetry in tooth enamel. It was found that for 25% of the residents the measured radiation doses do not exceed the background level. The rest of the doses exceed the background level by a factor of 2–4 on the average. A new method of nuclear explosion dating was developed on the basis of the EPR measurements of the free radical concentration in annual tree rings. Their maximal concentration corresponds to the years when nuclear explosions were executed. The obtained results correlate well with the commonly accepted radiography method. Both methods show a maximum of radionuclide levels in the years of nuclear testing. The plutonium-239 content in residents hair samples was found to be equal to (0.8±0.2)·10^?9 g/kg and with activity of 1.9±0.4 Bq/kg. This is by a factor of 20 higher than the permitted content for the population.     

Swift heavy ion-induced effects in Ce-doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles

Swift heavy ions of various energies are being used for material modifications. The induced modifications depend on the kind of defects produced during interaction of ions with the target material. In the present work, irradiation of 200 MeV Ag beam-induced effects in NiFe₂O₄ and NiCe_0.04Fe_1.96O₄ nanoparticles are studied at two different fluences, 2×10¹² and 1×10¹³ ions/cm². Nanoparticles of nickel ferrite and Ce-doped nickel ferrite were prepared by chemical route. X-ray diffraction pattern shows peaks corresponding to pure spinel structure in both the systems, NiFe₂O₄ and NiCe_0.04Fe_1.96O₄. The pristine as well as irradiated nanoparticles were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Raman spectra show bands corresponding to spinel structure. After irradiation, the position of the bands does not change significantly for both samples. The widths corresponding to the same band in both the systems show opposite trend with fluence. VSM results show that after irradiation, the magnetization decreases from 40 to 32 A m²/kg for NiFe₂O₄ and from 39 to 31 A m²/kg for NiCe_0.04Fe_1.96O₄. EPR results show that after doping with Ce as well as irradiation, the EPR line width is reduced, making samples important for applications.     

Binary Ce(III) and Li(I) triflate salt composition for solid polymer electrolytes

This study describes the results of the characterization of solid polymer electrolytes using chitosan matrix plasticized with glycerol and doped with cerium and lithium triflate binary salt composition. The electrolytes were prepared by solvent casting method and characterized by thermal analysis (thermogravimetric analysis—TGA and differential scanning calorimetry—DSC), impedance measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Samples are thermally stable up to 128–153 °C, and most of them are amorphous. In some cases, the appearance of crystalline peaks is due to the diffraction of salt domains, which makes the samples less conductive. The room temperature conductivity maximum of 10^?6 S cm^?1 at 30 °C was obtained for the samples with the same total salt mass of 0.15 g (ChitCeTrif_0.05LiTrif_0.10 and ChitCeTrif_0.10LiTrif_0.05). Finally, the EPR analysis suggests that the local coordination environment of the paramagnetic Ce³⁺ is not the same in different samples. In summary, beside the modest conductivity values of these samples, they are still adequate for some electrochemical applications.     

Variation in the EPR characteristics of nanosized zirconia particles under exposure to X-ray radiation and annealing in hydrogen

The effects of various external factors on the properties of nanosized zirconia particles are studied using electron paramagnetic resonance. It is shown that x-rays initiate radiation-stimulated oxidation of chromium impurity ions according to the scheme Cr³⁺ → Cr⁵⁺. Annealing of samples in hydrogen at temperatures in the range 250–650°C brings about a substantial decrease in the fraction of chromium ions in the Cr⁵⁺ charge state, but subsequent annealing of these samples in air leads to an increase in the Cr⁵⁺ fraction. Samples annealed in hydrogen generate a singlet EPR signal with the g factor of 2.0033 ± 0.0005 originating from electrically conducting regions which are formed on the surface of zirconia nanoparticles during their annealing in hydrogen.     

Interlaboratory comparison of tooth enamel dosimetry on Semipalatinsk region: Part 1, general view

For intercomparison of methods of dose determination using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of tooth enamel, the same sets of enamel samples were analyzed in different laboratories using similar recording parameters. The sets of samples included calibration samples irradiated in known doses, test samples irradiated to doses unknown to the participants and accidental dose samples prepared from teeth of humans affected by radioactive fallout from nuclear tests in the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan. The test samples were analyzed to determine the differences in the resulting doses using different spectrometers and different spectra processing methods. The accidental dose samples were analyzed in order to test the precision of doses determined by EPR spectroscopy and to obtain more accurate values by averaging the results from different laboratories.     

Investigation of metabolic changes in blood and tissue of mice γ-irradiated with sublethal doses by direct observation of EPR signals from Hb-NO complexes

The metabolic changes in probes of blood and tissue (spleen, liver and kidney) of mice under total γ-irradiation with the doses varied in the interval of 1–10 Gy at the dose rate of 0.073 Gy/min were studied in the early postirradiation period by ex vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). It was established that the impact with the lower dose rate leads to more intensive nitric monoxide biosynthesis in comparison with higher dose rates. In the early postirradiation period (from 2 up to 6 h), irradiation with doses higher than 2 Gy brings about an increase of the NO concentration and, hence, the appearance of nitrosyl complexes which were registered directly by EPR in blood and spleen. The observed line is identified as the signal from α-(Fe²⁺-NO)₂β(Fe³⁺)₂ or α-(Fe²⁺-NO) α(Fe²⁺)β(Fe³⁺)₂ complexes since the methemoglobin concentration also increases in comparison with the control level. The concentration of Hb-NO complexes in blood and spleen depends on the dose and individual radiosensitivity of the organism. Therefore, the intensity of the Hb-NO signal may serve as a criterion of the radiation injury level during the first hours after the irradiation. 30 h after the impact, the Hb-NO complexes were no longer detected. For the first day, the concentration of Fe³⁺-transferrin in blood increases with the dose and time passed after the irradiation. The intensity of the EPR signal from Fe³⁺-transferrin in blood may also serve as a measure of the radiation injury level.     

Photo-EPR study of gamma and neutron irradiated SI GaAs:Cr

The photo-EPR study of semi-insulating GaAs:Cr is reported. For non-irradiated samples the temperature dependence of Cr EPR signal amplitude was measured and the abnormal increasing of the Cr⁴⁺ EPR signal at the time the illumination was stopped was discovered. The neutron irradiation suppressed the Cr⁴⁺ EPR signal, but had almost no influence on the Cr²⁺ signal. The gamma irradiation induced a new spectrum.     

Relative thermoluminescence effects of alpha‐ and beta‐ radiation

Abstract

A study has been made of the relative thermoluminescence response to α- and β-radiation of six phosphors (two types of natural fluorite, CaF₂: Mn, CaF₂: Tb, CaSO₄: Mn and quartz) using samples which are thin compared to the range of the α-particles. The α- and β-radiations induce the same glow peaks, but at low doses (<100 rads) the TL response per rad of α-radiation (3.7 MeV) is less than that per rad of β-radiation in all the glow peaks studied. The α-efficiency ranges from 53 per cent for CaF₂: Mn to 2 per cent for quartz (110°C peak) at 3.7 MeV and decreases with decreasing α-particle energy. At higher doses (10⁶?10⁷ rads) the TL responses to α- and β-radiation become equal within 15 per cent; most of the glow peaks are in or near saturation at these doses. The higher the β-dose at which a peak saturates, the higher is the α-efficiency (at low doses) of that peak. The results support the interpretation that the α-efficiency is low because the phosphor is near or in saturation in the localized region near the α-path. This interpretation is given quantitative support by a theoretical calculation of the localized energy-density.     

A Variable Temperature X- and W-Band EPR Study of Fe-Doped SiCN Ceramics Annealed at 1000, 1100, and 1285 °C: Dangling Bonds,Ferromagnetism and Superparamagnetism

Polymer-derived SiCN ceramics, annealed (also referred to as pyrolyzed) at 1000, 1100, and 1285 °C, and doped with Fe(III) acetylacetonate, are investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) from 4 to 120 K at X-band (9.425 GHz). In addition, the SiCN ceramic, annealed at 1100 °C, was studied by EPR at 300 K at W-band (93.96 GHz). There was observed a significant increase in EPR linewidth due to dangling bonds (g = 2.001) below 20 K at X-band. The low-field X-band FMR line (g ≈ 12) indicated the presence of ferromagnetic Fe₅Si₃ crystallites. There were found two EPR lines due to carbon-related dangling bonds: (1) those present as defects on the surface of the free-carbon phase (as sp² carbon-related dangling bonds with g = 2.0011) and (2) those present within the bulk of carbon phase (as sp³ carbon-related dangling bonds with g = 2.0033). On the other hand, the intense low-field EPR signal observed at X-band was not observed at W-band. As well, there was observed splitting of the single broad EPR signal observed at g = 2.05 at X-band into two signals at W-band at g = 1.99 and g = 2.06, due to two different Fe-containing superparamagnetic nanocrystallites. Two new EPR signals, not observed at X-band, were observed at W-band, namely at g = 2.28 and g = 3.00, which are also due to g_∥ of these superparamagnetic nanocrystallites.     

Effect of Zn2+ and Cu2+ on free radical properties of melanin fromCladosporium cladosporioides

Effect of metal ions on free radical properties of natural melanin produced by soil fungiCladosporium cladosporioides was studied. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of the studied melanin consists mainly of a single line of eumelanin, and only a very weak signal of pheomelanin was observed. o-Semiquinone free radicals form paramagnetic centers in melanin. Diamagnetic Zn²⁺ ions produce an increase in the free radical concentration in melanin. Quenching of melanin EPR lines was obtained for melanin and paramagnetic Cu²⁺ ion complexes. Slow spin-lattice relaxation processes are characteristic for the free radicals in melanin samples and fast spin-lattice relaxation was observed for Cu²⁺ ions. The EPR lines of copper ions saturate at higher microwave powers than the EPR lines of melanin.