Linear energy transfer

Linear energy transfer (LET) is the energy a charged particle transfers to matter per unit distance traveled. It characterizes how densely the particle deposits energy along its track.

Stopping power: The rate at which a particle loses energy per unit distance while moving through matter. LET is closely related to stopping power, though conventions differ on which energy transfers count.
Relative biological effectiveness: The ratio of doses from two radiation types that produce the same biological effect. Differences in LET help account for changes in biological effectiveness between radiation types.
Absorbed dose: The energy imparted by ionizing radiation per unit mass of material. Dose measures energy per mass, whereas LET measures energy transfer per track length.
Ionizing radiation: Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms or molecules. LET characterizes energy transfer by charged particles within this broader radiation category.
Bethe formula: A formula describing the mean energy loss of a fast charged particle passing through matter. It predicts how charged particles lose energy and helps calculate their LET.
Radiation weighting factor: A factor used in radiation protection to account for differing health effects of radiation types. Its values reflect the greater biological harm generally associated with densely ionizing radiation.
Stopping power ratio: The ratio of stopping powers for the same particle in two materials. It compares energy-loss rates across materials rather than describing energy transfer within one track.
Charged particle: A particle carrying a nonzero electric charge. The concept applies directly to energy deposited along charged-particle paths.
Bragg peak: A sharp maximum in energy deposition near the end of a charged particle's range in matter. The rise in LET as particles slow helps create this end-of-range dose maximum.
Linear-quadratic model: A model of cell survival after radiation exposure using linear and quadratic dose terms. Its parameters vary with radiation quality, which LET helps characterize.

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