Chemical Yields of Ionizing Radiations in Aqueous Solutions: Effect of Energy of Alpha Particles

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Abstract
Ferric ion yields measured as a function of deuteron and proton energy show that G(Fe3+) decreases with decreasing energy of the ionizing particles. This effect is a manifestation of the increasing importance of the hydrogen atom recombination reactions in the cylindrical track of these particles. Consequently fewer hydrogen and (in aerated solutions) fewer hydroperoxy radicals are available for ferrous ion oxidation for particles of high LET than for particles of low LET. To determine chemical effects for particles of energy below maximum specific ionization, the dependence of G(Fe3+) on LET for alpha-particles on both sides of the peak in the Bragg ionization curve was studied. Integral and local ferric ion yields, Go(Fe3+) and G1(Fe3+), respectively, are reported for collimated beams of [alpha]-particles in the energy range from 4.5 to 0.2 Mev.