Theory of RBE. Fifth triennial report, 1 January 1967-31 December 1981
A single theme, that the response of a detector to gamma-rays (interpreted probabilistically through an extension of target theory) can be mapped into the region surrounding the path of an energetic heavy ion, through the local dose deposited by its delta-rays, has been the continuing basis of the present research. In order to systematize the understanding of RBE we have introduced new concepts to create a predictive theory of radiation response, of the structure of particle tracks, in a wide range of physical and biological systems. We have built a theory that is more generally applicable, to physical as well as to biological detectors, using the same basic concepts and operationally defined parameters. This procedure enables us to make quantitative experimental tests of the validity of our conceptual structure. We have created a systematic classification of detector properties, and have shown how their response varies with the numerical values of detector parameters within these classifications. Especially for 1-hit detection, our theory is universally accepted and applied. Originally created to explain the RBE of dry enzymes and viruses, it has been extended to scintillation counters, to particle tracks in nuclear emulsions, to thermoluminescent dosimeters, to lyo-luminescence, to single strand breaks in DNA, to the formation of color centers in crystals, and onwards. The extension of this conceptual system to biology required the many-hit detector, with its potential for the accumulation of sub-lethal damage. We have predicted the response of biological cells in high LET environments from this theory. It has served as the stimulus for discovering many hit physical systems (emulsions, photoresists) which respond preferentially to high LET radiations.
- Research Organization:
- Nebraska Univ., Lincoln (USA). Dept. of Physics
- DOE Contract Number:
- AS02-76EV01671
- OSTI ID:
- 6154959
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/01671-T1; COO-1671-87; COO-1671-88; ON: DE81029634; TRN: 81-016321
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Theory of RBE. Fourth triennial report, 1 January 1967-31 December 1978
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