Kerma (physics)

This article is about a quantity in radiation physics. For other uses, see Kerma (disambiguation).
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In radiation physics, kerma is an acronym for "kinetic energy released per unit mass" (alternately, "kinetic energy released in matter",[1] "kinetic energy released in material",[2] or "kinetic energy released in materials"[3]), defined as the sum of the initial kinetic energies of all the charged particles liberated by uncharged ionizing radiation (i.e., indirectly ionizing radiation such as photons and neutrons) in a sample of matter, divided by the mass of the sample. It is defined by the quotient .[4]

  1. ^ Overall Introduction. International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2000.
  2. ^ "5: Fundamental Radiation Quantities and Units - OzRadOnc".
  3. ^ "Kerma – Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF)".
  4. ^ Podgorsak, E.B., ed. (2005). Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. ISBN 92-0-107304-6. Retrieved 16 May 2012.