ESR response to 60Co-rays of ammonium tartrate pellets using Gd2O3Gd2O3 as additive

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 Co60γγ-rays than the recently used pure ammonium tartrate.The blend composed by ammonium tartrate and gadolinium-oxide (Gd2O3)(Gd2O3) 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)(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 Gd2O3Gd2O3 has a linear dose response in the investigated dose range (1–50 Gy). We find this blend suitable for use in ESR dosimetry.