The IAEA program on atomic and molecular data for radiotherapy and related research Page: 1 of 4
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THE IAEA PROGRAM ON ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR DATA - - ED
FOR RADIOTHERAPY AND RELATED RESEARCH JAN 2 6 1995
OSt
Mitio Inokuti
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, U.S.A.
INTRODUCTION
Radiation measurements and dosimetry usually require reliable values of
physical quantities that describe the interactions of radiation with matter.
Examples of such quantities are the stopping power and the ionization yield
(usually expressed in terms of the W value), as discussed by Grosswendt
(1) in the present Symposium. Studies of the microscopic mechanism of
radiation action or of advanced radiotherapy (using heavy ions, for instance)
require even more detailed information, as described below.
In any material subjected to ionizing radiation, many energetic particles
are present. These may be primary particles, charged or uncharged, or
secondary particles, such as electrons ejected in ionizing processes. These
particles deliver energy to molecules in the material in various collision
processes, and energetic electrons are always the most numerous. Any
serious analysis of the energy delivery processes requires knowledge about
the collision processes, most importantly the cross sections for all major
processes specified by energy transfer values.
Such an analysis may be carried out in many ways, depending on the
specific purpose (2). Two major classes of approaches are readily
recognized: the particle transport theory (3) and Monte Carlo simulations
(4), as discussed by Bichsel (5) in the present Symposium. In either
approach, it is important to use as input the cross section data that best
represent elementary microscopic processes. An analysis based on
unrealistic input data must be viewed with caution at best, because results
might be misleading.
Cross section data found in the literature are often relative rather than
absolute, discordant rather than unique, and fragmentary rather than
comprehensive (i.e., covering the wide range of variables needed in
radiation research and other applications). Therefore, it is highly desirable
to compile cross section data in order to evaluate them for reliability and to
recommend currently best sets of data to users.
Efforts toward this goal are being made by many workers in various
ways. The purpose of this lecture is to survey major international efforts
and activities.
The submitted manuscript has been authored
by a contractor of the U. S. Government
under contract No. W-31-109-ENG-38.
Accordingly, the U. S. Government retains a
nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish
or reproduce the published form of this
contribution, or allow others to do so, for
U. S. Government purposes. I MASiTERDISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS UNLIMITED pg
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Inokuti, Mitio. The IAEA program on atomic and molecular data for radiotherapy and related research, article, December 31, 1995; Illinois. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc669528/m1/1/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.