Energetics And Mechanisms In Radiation Biology

The fundamental understanding of the production of biological effects by ionizing radiation may well be one of the most important scientific objectives of mankind; such understanding could lead to the effective and safe utilization of the nuclear energy option. In addition, this knowledge will be of immense value in such diverse fields as radiation therapy and diagnosis and in the space program. To achieve the above stated objective, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessors embarked upon a fundamental interdisciplinary research program some 35 years ago. A critical component of this program is the Radiological and Chemical Physics Program (RCPP). When the RCPP was established, there was very little basic knowledge in the fields of physics, chemistry, and biology that could be directly applied to understanding the effects of radiation on biological systems. Progress of the RCPP program in its first 15 years was documented in the proceedings of a conference held at Airlie, Virginia, in 1972. At this conference, it was clear that considerable progr:ess had been made in research on the physical and chemical processes in well-characterized systems that could be used to understand biological effects. During this period of time, most physical knowledge was obtained for the gas phase because the technology and instru mentation had not progressed to the point that measurements could be made in liquids more characteristic of biological materials.

Physical Processes in Radiation Biology covers the proceedings of an International Symposium on Physical Processes in Radiation Biology, held at the Kellogg Center for Continuing Education, Michigan State University on May 6-8, 1963, sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The symposium aims to address the core problems of radiation biology concerning the absorption, distribution, and utilization of high energy packets in biological systems. This book is composed of 21 chapters, and begins with an introduction to the absorption, excitation, and transfer processes in molecular solids. The subsequent chapters discuss the nature of exciton processes; the mechanisms of charge transport in biological materials; the interactions of fast and slow electrons with model systems; the importance of liquid structures in determining the development of radiation damage; and the nature of the metastable species formed. The concluding chapters explore the importance of charge migration in energy transfer processes in different biological systems and the significance of higher excited levels in charge migration and energy transfer. These chapters also describe the nature of the hydration of electrons and protons in aqueous systems. This book will be of great value to radiation biologists, biophysicists, physical chemists, and physicists.