Studies to link the basic radiation physics and chemistry of liquid water

Abstract Collaborative work between radiation physicists and chemists is described, leading to a Monte Carlo model of the detailed events that occur when ionizing radiation interacts with water in the liquid state. The model treats explicitly the initial physical changes produced by radiation, the formation of chemically active species, and the subsequent diffusion-controlled chemical reactions that take place along the path of a charged particle. Several examples of calculated tracks and chemical yields are presented. The calculated time decay of the hydrated electron and OH radical are in good agreement with measurements from electron pulse radiolysis. The effect of dissolved oxygen on the computed chemical yields is presented. While many uncertainties necessarily exist in such an endeavor, the basic model linking the physics and chemistry of irradiated water appears to be consistent with existing experimental and theoretical data.