Linear energy transfer

scroll

Term in dosimetry of ionizing rays; energy transfer of an ionizing particle to the matter penetrated by radiation. The linear energy transfer is equal to the energy dE which a charged particle loses at a distance dl.

The linear energy transfer is indicated in keV/µm. The following relation has been fixed between the quality factor Q (L) and the unlimited linear energy transfer L:

Unlimited linear energy transfer L in water, (keV µm-1)	Q(L)
<10	1
10 - 100	0.32 L - 2.2
>100	300 / L

Relation between the linear energy transfer and the quality factor

back