Electron and positron scattering data for biological radiation damage modelling
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Faculty of Sci, Tech, Eng & Maths (STEM)
Abstract
Description: Electrons and positrons play a role in the interaction of radiation with biological material: electrons are generated in large quantities by the ionizing radiation used in medical treatment and imaging; positrons are used for sophisticated medical imaging (PET scans). Understanding the mechanisms and effect of electrons and positions on biological molecules can help improve how we use radiation both for treatment and imaging. In particular, scattering data are required as input for software that models quantitatively radiation dose and radiation induced damage in biological matter
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jimena Gorfinkiel (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Vincent Graves (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/T518165/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/09/2025 | |||
| 2449285 | Studentship | EP/T518165/1 | 01/10/2020 | 30/06/2024 | Vincent Graves |
| Description | In the case of low energy positron scattering from a biomolecule, the positron spends a significant amount of time within the electric field generated by the electrons of the biomolecule. During this time, the positive positron causes the negative electric field to morph. This is polarization and we have found that in order to accurately model this scattering process, the accuracy of the polarization is crucial. Furthermore, this polarisation description is more important in positron scattering than in electron scattering which was a surprise. |
| Exploitation Route | Some further research needs to be performed (which we are doing at the moment) into the best ways to improve on this polarization description. |
| Sectors | Chemicals |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/s10053-022-00371-0 |
| Description | Collaboration with Charles University Prague |
| Organisation | Charles University |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Improvement and development of shared code - UKRMol+ |
| Collaborator Contribution | Improvement and development of shared code - UKRMol+ |
| Impact | UKRmol+ codes, both UKRMolin and UKRMolout are available on Zenodo. We are also making a collection of perl scripts available to make the UKRMol+ suit of codes easier to use |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Collaboration with The Australian National University |
| Organisation | Australian National University (ANU) |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided computational data for positron scattering from pyrazine |
| Collaborator Contribution | They provided experimental data for positron scattering from pyrazine |
| Impact | A publication - https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevA.104.042807 |
| Start Year | 2022 |