ESR response to 60Co-rays of ammonium tartrate pellets using Gd2O3 as additive

Abstract This work presents experimental results regarding a new ammonium tartrate blend for ESR dosimetry, with a higher sensitivity and a lower lowest detectable dose (LDD) to Co 60 γ -rays than the recently used pure ammonium tartrate. The blend composed by ammonium tartrate and gadolinium-oxide ( Gd 2 O 3 ) shows a greater sensitivity ( ∼ 2 times) and a smaller LDD than ammonium tartrate. The increased sensitivity was mainly attributed to the great atomic number ( Z = 64 ) of gadolinium, that increases the effective atomic number of the blend; the interaction probability with photons and consequently the radical yield is therefore enhanced. Moreover ammonium tartrate with Gd 2 O 3 has a linear dose response in the investigated dose range (1–50 Gy). We find this blend suitable for use in ESR dosimetry.