energidepositionstempo

Energiedepositionstempo (German: Energiedepositionstempo) is a term used to denote the rate at which energy is deposited by an external source into a target, at a given location and time. It is commonly described as the energy deposited per unit volume per unit time, i.e., the volumetric power density q(r,t). The SI unit is watts per cubic meter (W/m^3); the total deposition rate is P_dep(t) = dE_dep/dt, measured in watts (W).

If a material has density ρ, the dose rate Ḋ relates to the volumetric deposition rate by Ḋ = q_vol/ρ, giving units of gray per second (Gy/s) for the dose rate. Thus Energiedepositionstempo connects the microscopic energy transfer processes (interactions and cross-sections) to macroscopic quantities like energy deposition and dose.

The concept depends on the incident energy spectrum, interaction mechanisms, attenuation and scattering within the material, geometry, and the time structure of the source (continuous versus pulsed). Spatial and temporal variations of q(r,t) are common in real systems, including heterogeneous or layered media.

Contexts and applications include radiation physics, nuclear engineering, and medical physics (radiation therapy), as well as astrophysics and plasma physics, where energy deposition affects heating, phase changes, or chemical processes. Modeling often employs Monte Carlo methods (e.g., Geant4, MCNP) or analytical approaches to compute energy deposition densities, while measurement relies on dosimetry or calorimetry to infer the deposition rate.

Related concepts include energy deposition, stopping power, linear energy transfer, and dose rate. The term Energiedepositionstempo is a descriptive coinage in German-language literature, with the broader concept typically referred to as energy deposition rate or power density.