High-Energy Charged Particle Interaction with Matter

Abstract

Ionizing radiation interacting with matter releases energy via a variety of processes, leading to chemical reactions and stable chemical bond formation. In this chapter, the primary interactions are schematized in view of an incident “ray” or charged particle as its slowing down process, with an important term of “stopping power” of the target materials. The energy released by an incident particle into unit volume is huge compared to that required for a chemical reaction, hence formation of a chemical bond. The overall dissipation process of the energy given directly by an incident charged particle is reviewed here, as well as the characteristic feature of the processes caused by high-energy charged particle with the long history of investigation of ionizing radiations and tremendous and well-sophisticated theoretical aspects on their physical interaction with the matters. Nonhomogeneous distribution of energy within a cylindrical area along the trajectory of a charged particle is the key to promote unique chemical reactions in an “ion track,” in connection with the single particle-induced/triggered nano-materials fabrication discussed in the following chapters.