Mitigation strategies for radiation damage in the analysis of ancient materials

• DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2014.10.005
• Publication Date: 2014-12-22T08:06:00Z
• Authors: Loïc Bertrand; Sebastian Schöeder; Demetrios Anglos; Mark B.H. Breese; Koen Janssens; Mehdi Moini; Aliz Simon
• Keywords: [PHYS]Physics [physics]; [SHS.ARCHEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory; 930; [CHIM.MATE]Chemical Sciences/Material chemistry; [SHS.ART]Humanities and Social Sciences/Art and art history; [SHS.MUSEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Cultural heritage and museology; 01 natural sciences; Imaging; Synchrotron; 0104 chemical sciences; Chemistry; Archaeology; 13. Climate action; 11. Sustainability; Cultural heritage; Methods; Materials; [CHIM.RADIO]Chemical Sciences/Radiochemistry; Spectroscopy

Abstract The study of materials in cultural heritage artifacts and micro-samples benefits from diagnostic techniques based on intense radiation sources, such as synchrotrons, ion-beam accelerators and lasers. While most of the corresponding techniques are classified as non-destructive, investigation with photons or charged particles entails a number of fundamental processes that may induce changes in materials. These changes depend on irradiation parameters, properties of materials and environmental factors. In some cases, radiation-induced damage may be detected by visual inspection. When it is not, irradiation may still lead to atomic and molecular changes resulting in immediate or delayed alteration and bias of future analyses. Here we review the effects of radiation reported on a variety of cultural heritage materials and describe the usual practice for assessing short-term and long-term effects. This review aims to raise awareness and encourage subsequent research activities to limit radiation side effects.