Rapid radiation induced processes

Experimental methods enabling studies to be made of rapid interactions between radiation and matter are discussed. Electron induced pprocesses in chemical and biological materials are used to illustrate three experimental methods, one chemical and the other two physical. The chemical method involves the addition of a scavenger of known molarity to the aqueous solution. This gives the possibility of studying electron reactions occurring on a time scale of down to 10-10-10-12 seconds. The physical methods discussed are stroboscopic pulse radiolysis using Cherenkov radiation and flash photolysis using picosecond laser pulses. (JIW)