Chemical effects following thermal neutron capture. Annealing of radiolytic and recoil products in crystalline potassium bromate

Abstract

The thermal annealing reactions of radiation and recoil induced decomposition of potassium bromate have been studied in crystals irradiated at –78 and 20°C using chemical analysis, u.-v. and thermoluminescence measurements. The annealing of recoil and radiation products occur simultaneously. The results show that the annealing of recoil products is closely associated with the release of charge carriers from the radiation produced fragments: (BrO—BrO₃)^–, O^–₂, (Br—BrO₃)^–, O^–₃, and BrO^2–₃. The decomposition of BrO^– has no effect on the recoil products.