Determination of some parameters for pion radiobiology studies.

An experimental investigation of the central axis depth-dose and stopping rate distribution of the SIN biomedical pion beam is reported. The pion stopping rate in a thin disc of tissue-equivalent plastic was determined using a counter telescope. The dose rate at the position of this dic 'target' was measured using a specially designed parallel-plate tissue-equivalent ionization chamber. Both dose rate and pion stopping rate are given as a function of depth for beams of two different momenta spread. The energy deposition required per pion stop to fit the measured dose rate curves was calculated and found to be between 37 and 40 MeV. From the stopping rate measurements the depth-dose distribution of pion interaction dose (star-dose) and the dose due to the pion slowing down have been evaluated. The maximum star-dose is found at a depth of about 2 g cm-2 beyound the maximum of the ionization dose.