Nature of ultraviolet and Gamma ray induced damage in crystalline Uracil |
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| Authors: | P. Martel B. M. Powell M. A. Slifkin |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories , Chalk River, Ontario, KOJ 1JO, Canada;2. Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering , University of Salford , Salford, M5 4WT, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | Abstract A study has been made of the damage producedin situ in dry polycrystalline uracil by irradiation with high energy 60Co photons and by low energy ultraviolet (UV) photons. The techniques of electron spin resonance, thin layer chromatography, infrared spectrometry, neutron diffraction and spectrophotometry have all been utilized to investigate effects produced by the irradiations. If was found that little lattice damage and no cis-syn cyclobutane dimers are producedin situ by irradiation of dry uracil with 60Co photons. However, following dissolution of the irradiated powder in water, radiation products are detected, and several of their characteristics have been elucidated. In contrast, following irradiation by 60Co photons of uracil in an aqueous environment, massive damage was found in the dried sample. Irradiation of dry uracil with UV photons is found to cause general lattice damage, but again negligible concentrations of cis-syn dimers are producedin situ. There is evidence for the formation of a planar, dimer-like molecular configuration. |
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| Keywords: | Irradiated uracil radiation damage dimerization. |
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