Shielding Strategies for Human Space Exploration Chapter 9: HZE Interactions in Biological Materials

Authors

M. Eugene Rudd, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

12-1997

Comments

Proceedings of a workshop sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and held at Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas December 6–8, 1995

Abstract

It is shown that most of the energy deposited by fast charged particles traversing matter occurs through ionization, i.e., the ejection of electrons during the atomic collision. The important mechanisms of ionization are identified and several methods of calculating the relevant differential and total cross sections are described. These include both classical and quantum theoretical methods and two semi-empirical models. The calculational methods were intended only for light, bare-ion projectiles, and care must be exercised in extending them to heavy, dressed projectiles.