Qualitative microanalysis of calcium local structure in tooth layers by means of micro-RRS.

Abstract

Summary The Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering or resonant Raman scattering is an inelastic process of second order that becomes important when the energy of the excitation radiation is below but close to an absorption edge. In this process, the emitted photons have a continuous energy distribution with a high energy cut-off limit. In the last few years, experiments of resonant Raman scattering has become a very powerful technique to investigate excitations of electrons in solids. A qualitative study of the calcium local structure in the different layers of teeth was carried out. In order to perform the analysis, several measurements of tooth samples were achieved using monochromatic synchrotron radiation at the XRF station of the D09B-XRF beamline at the Brazilian synchrotron facility (LNLS, Campinas), below and close to the K absorption edge of Ca to inspect the resonant Raman scattering spectra. First of all, the spectra were analyzed with specific software to fit the experimental data. After that, the residuals were determined and a fast Fourier transform smoothing procedure was applied, taking into account the instrument functions of the detecting system. These oscillations present patterns that depend of the tooth layer, i.e. of the calcium state.