PHYS 3330 Module 8.1

Particulate Radiation Interactions with Matter

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Differentiate between the interactions of charged particle radiation and photons with matter.
• Explain the concepts of collisional stopping power, elastic and inelastic collisions, ionization, and ion pairs.
• Calculate and interpret specific ionization (SI) and linear energy transfer (LET).
• Describe the Bragg peak and its significance in proton therapy.
• Understand and apply the concepts of cross section and bremsstrahlung radiation.

Particulate Radiation

Collisional Interactions

Stopping Power Tables

NIST: Stopping-Power & Range Tables for Electrons, Protons, and Helium Ions

Radiative Interactions