Theory of radiation chemistry. III. Radical reaction mechanism in the tracks of ionizing radiations

Abstract

This paper develops a model for the dissipation of the tracks of high-energy particles. It is assumed that all chemical effects are due to one kind of radical and that there are no effects of overlapping of neighboring tracks, i.e., that there is a sufficiently high concentration of scavenger to prevent such overlapping. The model of Samuel and Magee is used and extended to take into account the interaction of randomly distributed spurs along the track. Calculated values of the extent of scavenger reactions and radical reactions are presented in graphical form. General trends of experimental results to be expected according to the model are indicated. Quantitative correlation with experiments was not attempted because of the uncertainty in the values of various parameters used and because of the serious limitations of the one-radical model of tracks.