ESR response to γ-rays of alanine pellets containing B(OH)3 or Gd2O3

Abstract ESR response to γ -irradiation (1–50 Gy) of blends containing alanine and either B(OH) 3 or Gd 2 O 3 is reported. The sensitivity of the alanine—B(OH) 3 blend is comparable to the sensitivity of pure alanine, although its lowest detectable dose, LDD, is smaller (∼1.3 Gy) than that of pure alanine (∼2.9 Gy). Alanine with Gd 2 O 3 is about two times more sensitive than pure alanine, and its LDD is 0.8 Gy. The better sensitivity and LDD are probably due to the high atomic number ( Z = 64 ) of gadolinium, which enhances the interaction probability with photons and, consequently, the radical yield. This study suggests that other high- Z atoms may be useful for increasing the sensitivity of the response of alanine to γ -radiation.