Physics Athens 2016

Ionizing Radiation (IR)

• Directly ionizing: (charged particles) electrons, protons, light ions … Radiation deposits energy in the medium through direct Coulomb interactions ( → charged) with orbital electrons of atoms in the medium

• Indirectly ionizing: (neutral particles) photons, neutrons

Radiation deposit energy in the medium through a two step process: a charged particle is released in the medium (  -> e - , e + ; n-> p or heavier ions) the released charged particle acts as a directly ionizing radiation