Effect of radiation type in water radiolysis

Abstract

G values (molecules per 100 eV) of the aqueous radiolytic products OH radical, HO₂ radical, H₂ and H₂O₂ molecules were measured for a variety of radiation types and scavenger concentrations. The radiations included ⁶⁰Co gamma, protons, ⁴He, ¹⁴N and ²⁰Ne ions.

As expected G(OH) increased with increasing scavenger concentration and decreased with increasing LET (linear energy transfer, –dE/dx) of the radiation. G(H₂) increased monotonically with increasing LET, as did G(HO₂). G(H₂O₂) at first increased and then decreased with increasing LET. The results are compared with those of other workers and with computed G values from the modified prescribed diffusion model.