Calculation of heavy-ion tracks in liquid water

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5645440

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. Our 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 significance of the concept of a ''track core'' is 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/ sec in local regions of a track). The work described here is used in calculations that we have reported in other publications on the later chemical development of charged-particle tracks. 10 refs., 6 figs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5645440
• Report Number(s): CONF-8505113-1; ON: DE85012101
• 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
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY LOSSES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LOSSES
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NUCLEONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE TRACKS
PROTONS
RADIATION TRANSPORT
WATER