The effects of radiation on aqueous solutions of high polymers have been the subject of numerous investigations concerned with explaining basic mechanisms in radiation chemistry and biology. The work of Alexander and Charlesby (1) in England, Durup (2) in France, and Flory (3) in the United States represents almost the entire range of experimentation in this field. We have investigated the physical and chemical properties of polyacrylamide (PAM) as a radiation dosimeter. This polymer, which has a molecular weight of approximately five to six million, was dispersed in distilled water. The concentration of the solution determines the effect of irradiation. As reported by Charlesby (4), irradiation of solutions with concentrations greater than 0.5 per cent produces polymer crosslinking and an increase of viscosity. Irradiation of solutions with concentrations less than 0.5 per cent causes polymer degradation and this is reflected in a decrease in viscosity. The latter phenomenon was investigated with the use...