Effect of LET on the radiolysis of cyclopentane

Abstract

The γ- and α-radiolysis of cyclopentane were compared in the presence and absence of iodine scavenger. The G-values of the main hydrocarbon products, cyclopentene and bicyclopentyl are 2.22 and 0.56 molecule/100 eV in α-radiolysis and 3.25 and 1.23, respectively, in α-radiolysis. During high LET α-irradiation the yields of products formed by a radical mechanism are much smaller (G=1.18) than in γ-radiolysis (G=2.68), whereas “unimolecular” cyclopentene formation is hardly influenced by LET (G=1.8 and 1.6, respectively).