The Spatial Distribution of Secondary Electrons Produced in the γ-Radiolysis of Water

Abstract

Abstract The spatial distribution of secondary electrons produced in the γ-radiolysis of water in the liquid phase has been theoretically calculated. The method consists of the combination of the procedure previously developed for the calculation of the G-value of electrons with the theory proposed by Fr\ddotohlich and Platzman for the slowing down of electrons in polar liquids. The G-value of the ion-pairs initially produced was calculated to be 6.8 on the assumption that the binding energies of electrons in water are equal to those in solid water at 77K. 27% of the ion-pairs were generated in isolated spurs. Another 27% of the ion-pairs were generated in condensed spurs, each of which contains more than one hundred ion-pairs. The other ion-pairs formed less condensed spurs, each of which contains from 2 to 100 ion-pairs. A new definition was given for the classification of spurs: isolated spurs, blobs, and short tracks; the original proposal was by Mozumder and Magee. The diameter of the isolated spur was estimated to be about 100 Å. The distribution of the distance between the parent positive ion and the thermalized electron in the isolated spur was well expressed by the function proposed by Abell and Funabashi, except at very short distances.