Linear energy transfer
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Linear energy transfer (LET) is the average (radiation) energy deposited per unit path length along the track of an ionising particle. Its units are keV/μm.
Linear energy transfer describes the energy deposition density of a particular type of radiation, which largely determines the biological consequence of radiation exposure.
LET is ∞ Q2/Ek
- LET is proportional to the square of the charge of the particle
- LET is inversely proportional to the particle's kinetic energy
High LET radiations: LET 3-200 keV/μm
- low speed, highly charged particles:
- greater density of interactions at cellular level
- more likely, than low LET, to produce biological damage in a given volume of tissue
Low LET radiations: LET 0.2-3 keV/μm
- commonly mediated by:
- electrons
- positrons
- gamma rays
- x-rays
- less likely than high LET to produce tissue damage in the same volume of tissue
-<p><strong>Linear energy transfer (LET)</strong> is the average (radiation) energy deposited per unit path length along the track of an <a title="Ionising radiation" href="/articles/ionising-radiation">ionising particle</a>. Its units are keV/μm.</p><p>Linear energy transfer describes the energy deposition density of a particular type of radiation, which largely determines the biological consequence of radiation exposure.</p><p>LET is ∞ Q<sup>2</sup>/E<sub>k</sub></p><ul>- +<p><strong>Linear energy transfer (LET)</strong> is the average (radiation) energy deposited per unit path length along the track of an <a href="/articles/ionising-radiation">ionising particle</a>. Its units are keV/μm.</p><p>Linear energy transfer describes the energy deposition density of a particular type of radiation, which largely determines the biological consequence of radiation exposure.</p><p>LET is ∞ Q<sup>2</sup>/E<sub>k</sub></p><ul>
-<li><a title="alpha particle" href="/articles/alpha-particle">α-particles</a></li>-<li><a title="protons" href="/articles/protons">protons</a></li>-<li><a title="neutrons" href="/articles/neutrons">neutrons</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/alpha-particle">α-particles</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/protons">protons</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/neutrons">neutrons</a></li>
-<li><a title="Electrons" href="/articles/electron">electrons</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/electron">electrons</a></li>
-<li>gamma rays</li>-<li><a title="X-rays" href="/articles/x-rays-1">x-rays</a></li>- +<li><a title="Gamma decay" href="/articles/gamma-decay">gamma rays</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/x-rays-1">x-rays</a></li>
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