Atomic recoils, quasi-elastic scattering and radiation dosimetry

The established importance of quasi-elastic scattering processes by heavy recoils, of the type released by intermediate energy neutron interaction with tissue-like media, necessitates re-examination of current dosimetry concepts. It will be shown that theoretical and experimental examination of cross-sections for molecular inactivation by H, He and N projectiles at energies below 10KeV permit useful conclusions to be reached about the primary inactivating mechanism. The implications of this work with regard to overkill, radiation quality and dosimetry generally is discussed in terms of the fundamental cross-sections