energideposition

Energideposition is the process by which energy from a radiation field is transferred to and deposited within a material. The deposited energy manifests as electronic excitations, ionizations, atomic displacements, and a rise in temperature. The concept is central to dosimetry, detector design, and understanding material response to radiation.

Different radiations deposit energy through different mechanisms. Photons deposit energy via the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering, or pair production, depending on energy and atomic number. Charged particles such as protons or electrons lose energy continuously along their track through ionization and excitation. Neutrons transfer energy mainly via nuclear interactions, producing recoil nuclei and secondary particles. In all cases, the spatial distribution of deposited energy depends on geometry, material composition, and the spectrum of the radiation.

Quantities and models: the absorbed dose measures energy deposited per unit mass (gray). Stopping power and linear energy transfer describe energy loss per unit length; energy deposition can be highly localized for heavy charged particles. Computational methods, including Monte Carlo simulations, are widely used to predict energy deposition patterns in complex geometries. Experimental techniques include calorimetry, thermoluminescent dosimetry, and semiconductor or scintillation detectors.

Applications and implications: accurate knowledge of energideposition is essential in radiotherapy for dose planning, in shielding design, and in assessing radiation damage to materials and electronics. It also informs detector calibration and safety standards. Limitations include stochastic variation of energy deposition at microscopic scales and uncertainties in interaction models for certain materials or energy ranges.

See also: dosimetry, energy deposition, stopping power, LET, calorimetry, Geant4, radiation hardness.