Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in medical dosimetry

Authors

David A. Schauer, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Akinori Iwasaki, Dartmouth Medical School
Alexander A. Romanyukha, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Harold M. Swartz, Dartmouth Medical School
Sandro Onori, cIstituto Superiore di Sanità

Date of this Version

2007

Comments

Published in Radiation Measurements 41 (2007) S117–S123.

Abstract

This paper describes the fundamentals of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and its application to retrospective measurements of clinically significant doses of ionizing radiation. X-band is the most widely used in EPR dosimetry because it represents a good compromise between sensitivity, sample size and water content in the sample. Higher frequency bands (e.g., W and Q) provide higher sensitivity, but they are also greatly influenced by water content. L and S bands can be used for EPR measurements in samples with high water content but they are less sensitive than X-band. Quality control for therapeutic radiation facilities using X-band EPR spectrometry of alanine is also presented.