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Atoms, Volume 13, Issue 10 (October 2025) – 2 articles

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28 pages, 3057 KB  
Article
Proton Interactions with Biological Targets: Inelastic Cross Sections, Stopping Power, and Range Calculations
by Camila Strubbia Mangiarelli, Verónica B. Tessaro, Michaël Beuve and Mariel E. Galassi
Atoms 2025, 13(10), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms13100083 - 24 Sep 2025
Abstract
Proton therapy enables precise dose delivery to tumors while sparing healthy tissues, offering significant advantages over conventional radiotherapy. Accurate prediction of biological doses requires detailed knowledge of radiation interactions with biological targets, especially DNA, a key site of radiation-induced damage. While most biophysical [...] Read more.
Proton therapy enables precise dose delivery to tumors while sparing healthy tissues, offering significant advantages over conventional radiotherapy. Accurate prediction of biological doses requires detailed knowledge of radiation interactions with biological targets, especially DNA, a key site of radiation-induced damage. While most biophysical models (LEM, mMKM, NanOx) rely on water as a surrogate, this simplification neglects the complexity of real biomolecules. In this work, we calculate the stopping power and range of protons in liquid water, dry DNA, and hydrated DNA using semi-empirical cross sections for ionization, electronic excitation, electron capture, and electron loss by protons and neutral hydrogen in the 10 keV–100 MeV energy range. Additionally, ionization cross sections for uracil are computed to explore potential differences between DNA and RNA damage. Our results show excellent agreement with experimental and ab initio data, highlighting significant deviations in stopping power and range between water and DNA. Notably, the stopping power of DNA exceeds that of water at most energies, reducing proton ranges in dry and hydrated DNA by up to 20% and 26%, respectively. These findings provide improved input for Monte Carlo simulations and biophysical models, enhancing RBE predictions and dose accuracy in hadrontherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Spectroscopy and Collisions)
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12 pages, 541 KB  
Article
Integral Cross Sections and Transport Properties for Electron–Radon Scattering over a Wide Energy Range (0–1000 eV) and a Reduced Electric Field Range (0.01–1000 Td)
by Gregory J. Boyle, Dale L. Muccignat, Joshua R. Machacek and Robert P. McEachran
Atoms 2025, 13(10), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/atoms13100082 - 23 Sep 2025
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Abstract
We report calculations for electron–radon scattering using a complex relativistic optical potential method. The energy range of this study is 0–1000 eV, with results for the elastic (total, momentum-transfer and viscosity-transfer) cross section, summed discrete electronic-state integral excitation cross sections and electron-impact ionization [...] Read more.
We report calculations for electron–radon scattering using a complex relativistic optical potential method. The energy range of this study is 0–1000 eV, with results for the elastic (total, momentum-transfer and viscosity-transfer) cross section, summed discrete electronic-state integral excitation cross sections and electron-impact ionization cross sections presented. Here, we obtain our cross sections from a single theoretical relativistic calculation. Since radon is a heavy element, a relativistic treatment is very desirable. The electron transport coefficients are subsequently calculated for reduced electric fields ranging from 0.01 to 1000 Td, using a multi-term solution of Boltzmann’s equation. Full article
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