Joannes-Boyau, RenaudGrun, RainerBodin, Thomas2015-12-080969-8043http://hdl.handle.net/1885/33595Spectrum decomposition of the angular measurements of fossil tooth enamel fragments using an automated simulated annealing (SA) procedure shows that the mix CO2- radicals generated by laboratory irradiation is significantly different to that of the natural sample. The naturally irradiated sample contains about 10% of non-oriented CO2- radicals and a mix of 35:65 orthorhombic to axial CO2- radicals. In contrast, laboratory irradiation generated about 40% of non-oriented radicals and a large amount of orthorhombic CO2- radicals, while we failed to detect any axial CO2- radicals. The results indicate that geological aging of the sample incurs various annealing and transfer processes; their precise nature is yet unknown. Nevertheless, the understanding of the formation and transfer processes that leads to the observed mix of CO2- radicals in fossil tooth enamel is essential for the reliable application of ESR dating.Keywords: ESR spectra; Fossil tooth enamel; Gamma irradiation; Irradiated samples; Non-oriented; Spectrum decomposition; Transfer process; Electron spin resonance spectroscopy; Irradiation; Ocean habitats; Simulated annealing; Carbon dioxide; carbon dioxide; carbon CO - 2 radicals; Enamel fragment; ESR datingDecomposition of the laboratory gamma irradiation component of angular ESR spectra of fossil tooth enamel fragments201010.1016/j.apradiso.2010.03.0152016-02-24