Dependence of anti W on the charge of heavy ions

Anti W values (average energy required to form an ion pair) were determined for 35Cl ions in nitrogen and tissue-equivalent gas. These values were compared to previously reported anti W values for oxygen ions and alpha particles in the same media. This comparison was made at two specific values of energy per atomic mass unit of the incident ions. At an energy of 2.57 MeV/amu, the comparison shows anti W is 12% and 10% higher for oxygen ions in tissue-equivalent and nitrogen gas, respectively, relative to alpha particle anti W. At an energy of 0.77 MeV/amu, a similar comparison shows anti W is 20% higher for 35Cl ions and 12% higher for 16O ions in tissue-equivalent gas; and 13% and 10% higher, respectively, in nitrogen gas, relative to alpha particle anti W. These results indicate that anti W values depend not only on the energy per atomic mass unit of heavy ions but also on their charge