Energy deposition by proton beams of up to 31 MeV in microscopic volumes.

The frequency distributions of energy deposition in microscopic volumes for proton beams of various energies and energy spreads were determined by means of a "rossi type" proportional counter. Tissue equivalent spherical volumes of 0.6, 0.72, 0.80, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00 micrometer diameter were simulated. Frequency distributions of energy deposition per unit pathlength are reported and their behavior as a function of the simulated pathlength, beam energy and energy spread is discussed. The results indicate that energy deposition distributions in microscopic volumes for protons in the range 8-31 MeV are skewsymmetric distributions with a tail on the high energy side, and that degraded beams behave differently from monoenergetic ones. Dose mean lineal energy values have been quoted for beams used in radiobiological experiments.