Calculation of heavy-ion tracks in liquid water

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3576627· OSTI ID:5081028

Hamm, R N; Turner, J E; Ritchie, R H; Wright, H A

Detailed Monte Carlo calculations are presented of proton and alpha-particle tracks in liquid water. The computations treat the interactions of the primary particle and all secondary electrons on a statistical, event-by-event basis to simulate the initial physical changes that accompany the passage of an ion through water. The authors methods for obtaining the cross sections needed for such calculations are described. Inelastic scattering probabilities (inverse mean free paths) are derived from a complex dielectric response function constructed for liquid water, based on experimental and theoretical data. Examples of partial cross sections for ionization and excitation by protons are shown. The computation of electron transport and energy loss includes exchange, elastic scattering, and a scheme for the delocalization of energy shared collectively by a large number of electrons in the condensed medium. Several examples of calculated proton and alpha-particle tracks are presented and discussed. The meaning and significant of the concept of a track core are briefly addressed in the light of this work. The present paper treats only the initial, physical changes produced by radiation in water (in approx.10/sup -15/ s in local regions of a track). The work described here is used in calculations that they have reported in other publications on the later chemical development of charged-particle tracks. 10 references, 5 figures.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5081028
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 104; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

654001* -- Radiation & Shielding Physics-- Radiation Physics
Shielding Calculations & Experiments
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ALPHA PARTICLES
BARYONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
DATA
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
LOSSES
MEV RANGE
MEV RANGE 01-10
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE TRACKS
PROTONS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SCATTERING
THEORETICAL DATA
WATER