Thermalisation and Recombination of Subexcitation Electrons in Solid Water

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 1990-06, Vol.31 (1-4), p.33-36
• Main Authors: Goulet, T., Patau, J.P., Jay-Gerin, J.-P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/31.1-4.33

The results of Monte Carlo simulations of the thermalisation of subexcitation electrons in solid water are reported. In the simulations, the possibility is taken into account that, prior to being thermalised, the electrons either recombine with their parent cation (H2O+), or undergo a dissociative attachment to water molecules. A particular emphasis is placed on the description of the recombination process and on the influence of the parent cation on the electron's motion. The simulations are performed for different initial electron energies Eo in the subexcitation energy range (i.e. Eo < 7.4 eV). For each of these energies, the mean thermalisation distance th and time th are determined, as well as the proportions Prec and Pdis of subexcitation electrons which, instead of thermalising, undergo recombination or dissociative attachment. An average of these quantities over the range of Eo values yield: th ( 14 nm, th ( 60 fs, Prec ( 5%, and Pdis ( 3%.