Inelastic-collision cross sections of liquid water for interactions of energetic protons

Abstract

Cross-section data for inelastic interactions of energetic protons with liquid water, for use, e.g. as input in track structure analysis, are derived for an energy range from 0.1 keV to 10 GeV. At proton kinetic energies above about 500 keV, the first Born approximation and the dielectric-response function determined earlier are used. At proton energies above several hundred MeV in particular, the Fermi-density effect is also incorporated. At energies below about 500 keV, which corresponds to a residual range of about 8.9 × 10 −6 m, cross-section values are derived semi-empirically by an extensive and critical analysis of experimental and theoretical information concerning not only cross sections for individual processes such as ionisation, excitation, and charge transfer but also stopping power and other relevant quantities. Spectra of secondary electrons resulting from ionising collisions are also presented. The analysis also includes considerations of phase effects on cross sections.