Track effects of heavy ions in liquid water

The various types of ionizing radiation can have widely differing radiation effects due to their variation in track structure. The effects of track structure on the radiation chemistry of water are particularly important because of the fundamental aspects and the wide range of practical applications. This review gives an overview of how the physics of energy-loss processes are responsible for the geometry of the particle track and thereby the final product yields. The radiation chemical effects are discussed in qualitative terms to show how the fundamental relationship between the physics and chemistry of particle tracks leads to the observed products. Special phenomena at very high rates of energy deposition are also covered. Finally, a discussion on the future research trends is given.