Decomposition of the laboratory gamma irradiation component of angular ESR spectra of fossil tooth enamel fragments

作者：Joannes Boyau Renaud^*; Grun Rainer; Bodin Thomas

来源：Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2010, 68(9): 1798-1808.

DOI：10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.03.015

• ESR dating
• Enamel fragment
• CO(2)(-) radicals

Spectrum decomposition of the angular measurements of fossil tooth enamel fragments using an automated simulated annealing (SA) procedure shows that the mix CO(2)(-) radicals generated by laboratory irradiation is significantly different to that of the natural sample. The naturally irradiated sample contains about 10% of non-oriented CO(2)(-) radicals and a mix of 35:65 orthorhombic to axial CO(2)(-) radicals. In contrast, laboratory irradiation generated about 40% of non-oriented radicals and a large amount of orthorhombic CO(2)(-) radicals, while we failed to detect any axial CO(2)(-) radicals. The results indicate that geological aging of the sample incurs various annealing and transfer processes: their precise nature is yet unknown. Nevertheless, the understanding of the formation and transfer processes that leads to the observed mix of CO(2)(-) radicals in fossil tooth enamel is essential for the reliable application of ESR dating.

• 出版日期2010-9