Page 149 - Radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry

134 Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry

FIG. 6.7. Number of ion pairs formed per nun air at STP as function of particle energy. (a)
average specific ionization at maximum particle energy, (b) same for residual range. (From
H. A. C. McKay.)

6.4. Absorption of electrons

Absorption of high energy electron beams occurs through interaction with the orbital
electrons and the electromagnetic field at the atom. The processes are summarized in Table
6.1 and Figure 6.8. In order to distinguish between electrons from accelerators and those
from/3-decay we refer to the latter as 13-particles.