Properties of the ammonium tartrate/EPR dosimeter

The EPR response of gamma-irradiated ammonium tartrate on the absorbed dose of gamma-rays up to 22 kGy as well as the changes in the shape of the EPR spectrum upon applied modulation amplitude and microwave power are reported. Also the possibility to use ammonium tartrate together with Mn2+ magnetically diluted in MgO as an internal reference material is evaluated. The influence of the microwave power and the modulation amplitude on their dose response is investigated. The results show that the radiation-induced EPR spectrum of ammonium tartrate, obtained at a low microwave power is complex consisting several patterns and is more easily saturated than the Mn2+ EPR spectrum. In this case the following settings of the EPR parameters are recommended: H(mod)less than or equal to0.05 mT and 10less than or equal toP(MW)less than or equal to13 mW. Using these parameters the dosimeters can be considered for use in intercomparisons. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.