SEMIEMPIRICAL FORMULAS FOR THE DETOUR FACTOR OF 1-MEV TO 50-MEV ELECTRONS IN CONDENSED MATERIALS

Two semiempirical formulas for the detour factor, defined as the ratio of the average penetration depth to the continuous slowing-down appro ximation range, have been developed for electrons of energies from 1 t o 50 MeV. One of them is of simpler form and is applicable to absorber s consisting of light compounds or mixtures (phantom materials) with m ean atomic numbers between 4.75 (polyethylene) and 6.61 ('plastic wate r'), thus being useful for obtaining scaling factors in medical electr on-beam dosimetry. Though being less precise, the other is applicable to condensed materials of atomic numbers between 4 and 92. (C) 1998 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.