Modelling low energy electron and positron tracks for biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Radiation physics
• Computational modeling

Background:

• Accurate radiation interaction models are essential for various scientific and medical applications.
• Existing models often rely on approximations suitable for high incident energies, neglecting low-energy particle behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simulation method incorporating low energy electrons and positrons into radiation interaction models.
• To specifically address electron and positron interactions below 10 keV, down to thermal energies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized experimental and theoretical cross-section data and energy loss spectra.
• Established a Low Energy Particle Track Simulation (LEPTS) procedure.
• Focused on simulating electron and positron interactions below 10 keV.

Main Results:

• Presented simulations of single electron and positron tracks in water.
• Demonstrated the potential for developing nanodosimetry tools based on these simulations.

Conclusions:

• Standard high-energy approximations like Born-Bethe theory are inadequate for simulating tracks below 10 keV.
• Accurate cross-section data and energy loss spectra are necessary before incorporating low-energy effects into radiation models.