title: Semiempirical model for the ion impact ionization of complex biological media.
abstract: We present a semiempirical model for calculating the electron emission from any organic compound after ion impact. With only the input of the density and composition of the target we are able to evaluate its ionization cross sections using plausible approximations. Results for protons impacting in the most representative biological targets (such as water or DNA components) show a very good comparison with experimental data. Because of its simplicity and great predictive effectiveness, the method can be immediately extended to any combination of biological target and charged particle of interest in ion beam cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física Aplicada, Universitat d'Alacant, E-03080 Alacant, Spain and Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Ruth-Moufang-Strasse 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Vera
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física-Centro de Investigación en Óptica y Nanofísica, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Molina
authors.affiliation: Departament de Física Aplicada, Universitat d'Alacant, E-03080 Alacant, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abril
authors.affiliation: Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Ruth-Moufang-Strasse 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrey V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Solov'yov
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004249:DNA Damage; D063193:Heavy Ion Radiotherapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D061766:Proton Therapy; D011522:Protons; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA