AN ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE STUDY OF TRAPPED ELECTRONS FORMED AT 77.5 °K BY GAMMA IRRADIATION OF AN ORGANIC GLASS

Abstract

2-Methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) traps electrons and free radicals or radical-ions when irradiated with 60Co gamma rays at 77.5 °K. The e.s.r. difference spectrum technique has been used to determine the microwave saturation properties and line shape parameters of the absorption due to "trapped" electrons. These measurements support the postulate that physically trapped electrons are present and indicate that trapped electrons and free radicals or radical-ions exist in local concentrations which are considerably greater than their average concentration in the sample. It is concluded that they are trapped in clusters. A study of the thermal decay of the trapped electrons supports the cluster model.