Measurement of radiation damage by electron energy‐loss spectroscopy

SUMMARY Inner shell ionization edges in the energy‐loss spectrum were used to measure the loss of gaseous elements from thin samples of nitrocellulose, polyvinyl formal, copper phthalocyanine, graphite bisulphate and sodium chloride during exposure to 80 keV electrons. The irradiation kinetics were measured for electron doses up to 104 C m−2 and for dose rates up to 10 mA m−2. The energy‐loss technique is discussed in relation to other methods for assessing radiation damage.