Radiation mechanisms. Part 10.—Comparison between the effects of fast neutron irradiation and 60Co γ-irradiation of a range of ionic and non-ionic materials

Abstract

A range of materials previously studied by e.s.r. spectroscopy after exposure to ⁶⁰Co γ-rays have been exposed to fast neutrons under identical conditions and the resulting spectra compared with those for the γ-irradiated samples. Although neutral materials (largely organic halides) gave almost identical spectra, ionic materials (perchlorates, chlorates and bromates) generally gave spectra exhibiting distinct differences. These are discussed in terms of the displacement of lattice atoms by fast neutrons, leading to “thermal” and “environmental” differences.