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Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Dating, General Principles

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Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods

Synonyms

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)

Definitions

Electron spin resonance: The identification of paramagnetic species through absorption of energy in an external magnetic field.

Electron spin resonance dating: The determination of burial age through measurement of the concentration of free radicals created by natural radiation.

Introduction

To understand electron resonance (ESR) dating, one must, clearly, first understand the principles of electron spin resonance spectroscopy. As the name shows, these principles begin with the nature of atomic structure – a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons. The technique of ESR spectroscopy was first developed by Zavoisky in 1944. Since then applications have been developed in multiple fields of chemistry and physics, as well as the potential for dating in geology, paleontology, and archaeology. An excellent summary can be found in Rink (1997).

Quantum theory tells us that all systems have a definite...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Williams College, 47 Lab Campus Drive, Williamstown, MA, 01267, USA

    Anne Skinner

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  1. Anne Skinner
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Correspondence to Anne Skinner .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    W. Jack Rink

  2. Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Jeroen Thompson

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Skinner, A. (2014). Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Dating, General Principles. In: Rink, W., Thompson, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_6-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6326-5_6-1

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