Electron spin resonance dating, or ESR dating, is a technique used to date materials which radiocarbon dating cannot, including minerals (e.g. carbonates, silicates, sulphates), biological materials (e.g., tooth enamel), archaeological materials (e.g., ceramics) and food.[1] Electron spin resonance dating was first introduced to the science community in 1975, when Japanese nuclear physicist Motoji Ikeya dated a speleothem in Akiyoshi Cave, Japan.[2] ESR dating measures the amount of unpaired electrons in crystalline structures that were previously exposed to natural radiation. The age of a substance can be determined by measuring the dosage of radiation since the time of its formation.[3]
- ^ Ikeya, Motoji (1989). "Use of Electron Spin Resonance Spectrometry in Microscopy, Dating and Dosimetry A Review". Analytical Sciences. 5 (1): 5–12. doi:10.2116/analsci.5.5.
- ^ Grun, Rainer (1991). "Electron spin resonance dating and the evolution of modern humans" (PDF). in-africa.org. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
- ^ Radtke, Ulrich; Grün, Rainer; Schwarcz, Henry P. (1988). "Electron spin resonance dating of the Pleistocene coral reef tracts of Barbados". Quaternary Research. 29 (3): 197–215. Bibcode:1988QuRes..29..197R. doi:10.1016/0033-5894(88)90030-0. S2CID 129744529.