Low-energy electron and positron transport in gases and soft-condensed systems of biological relevance

Abstract

We present a study of electron and positron transport in water in both the gaseous and liquid states using a Boltzmann equation analysis and a Monte-Carlo simulation technique. We assess the importance of coherent scattering processes when considering transport of electrons/positrons in dense gases and liquids. We highlight the importance of electron and positron swarm studies and experiments as a test of the accuracy and completeness of cross-sections, as well as a technique for benchmarking Monte-Carlo simulations. The thermalization of low-energy positrons (<150 eV) in water is discussed and the sensitivity of the profiles to the form of the cross-sections in this energy region, and assumptions in the microscopic processes, is considered.

Keywords: Cross sections; Monte-Carlo simulation; Positron transport; Radiation damage modeling; Swarm physics.