189 research outputs found
Parameters of track structure
Linear energy transfer (or collision stopping power) and energy
straggling along the tracks of charged particles are both relevant to the effectiveness
of ionizing radiation. Energy straggling is the dominant aspect whenever
one is concerned with small energy depositions ( < 1 keV) and a correction to
L E T is necessary in these cases. The correction term and its relation to the
spectrum of energy transfers in primary collisions is derived. Other parameters
of track structure are discussed, and an analysis is mentioned which can substitute
the Landau- and Vavilov-theory in the analysis of the collision spectrum
Event simultaneity in cavities. Theory of the distortions of energy deposition in proportional counters
Risk projections in time
The nominal risk coefficients for radiation induced cancer are largely based on the follow-up of the mortality
from solid cancers among the atomic bomb survivors. For those who have been exposed as adults, the observations
are essentially complete, and the risk estimates are, therefore, firmly based on observations. Those who
have been exposed as children, have still not reached the age of high cancer incidence. Their observation is,
therefore, still incomplete, and the risk estimates are correspondingly uncertain.
The modelling of risk has predominantly been based on the postulate, that the relative risk (i.e. the actual
cancer rate divided by the age specific normal rate) depend on dose and on age at exposure, and that it does
not decline with time since exposure. The high relative risks observed at young ages lead, therefore, with this
type of model, to high estimates of life time attributable risk. The ICRP recommendations contain these high
risk estimates for young ages at exposure; the high sensitivity of children and juveniles has, indeed, become one
of the basic tenets of radiation protection.
It is here shown that these conclusions are still hypothetical, because they are merely a matter of the choice
of the model. An alternative model assumes a dependence of the excess relative risk on age attained, rather than
age at exposure. This model fits the data equally well, and predicts no increased risk for young ages at
exposure. A decision between the two models is not possible at present, it will have to await the continued follow-
up of those who survived the atomic bombs as children.
The ICRP has been criticised for postulating a dose reduction factor (DDREF) in their nominal risk
coefficients. If they abandoned this factor, and used the age attained model, rather than their present model,
their numerical risk coefficients would remain unchanged
On the Number of Clumps Resulting from the Overlap of Randomly Placed Figures in a Plane
When two-dimensional figures, called laminae, are randomly placed on a plane domains result that can either be aggregates or individual laminae. The intersection of the union, U, of these domains with a specified field of view, F, in the plane is considered. The separate elements of the intersection are called clumps; they may be laminae, aggregates or partial laminae and aggregates. A formula is derived for the expected number of clumps minus enclosed voids. For bounded laminae homeomorphic to a closed disc with isotropic random direction the formula contains only their mean area and mean perimeter, the area and perimeter of F, and the intensity of the Poisson process
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