Oxidation of Ferrous Sulfate by High-Energy Electrons and the Influence of the Polarization Effect

Abstract
Irradiation of ferrous sulfate by high energy electrons from a betatron is described. An air cavity was irradiated under similar experimental conditions with electrons (6.3 Mev and 16.0 Mev) and the ionization measured. On the basis of the observed oxidation of ferrous iron and analysis of the energy absorbed on the basis of ionization measurements, G values of 15.5 ions per 100 ev at 6.3 Mev, and 15.7 ions per 100 ev at 16 Mev were obtained. These G values are similar to those obtained previously with Co60 gamma rays. The dosimetry analysis assumed the polarization effect correction. If the polarization effect were not included the G values obtained with the different energies of electrons would differ from each other and from the values obtained with X-rays and gamma rays by amounts well beyond the experimental uncertainty.