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.
The LET of a charged particle2 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 particlescommonly mediated by: - 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 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>The LET of a <strong>charged </strong>particle<sup>2</sup> is ∞ Q<sup>2</sup>/E<sub>k </sub></p><ul>
-<li>low speed, highly charged particles:<ul>- +<li>commonly mediated by:<ul>
-<li><a title="Gamma decay" href="/articles/gamma-decay">gamma rays</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/gamma-decay">gamma rays</a></li>
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