#research #physics See also: [[Stopping Power]] and [[Bethe Formula for Stopping Power]] # Bragg Curve Motivation: Writing up whta the Bragg curve is, i.e. how we determine the energy deposition of charged particles Charged particles lose their energy as they pass through a material. This energy loss is primarily caused by ionization and radiative losses, as described by the [[Bethe Formula for Stopping Power]]. the Bragg curve, therefore is the plot demonstrating the rate of energy loss as a function of that distance [^1]. As can be seen, the Bragg Curve shows us that as a charge particle travels through an attenuating medium, it deposits a relatively uniformly low amount of energy [^2], until it approaches the end of its track. As it reaches this "end" there is a much greater quantity of energy lost, i.e. deposited into the attenuating material. This peak on the plot is often referred to as the "Bragg Peak".  This curve is both material dependent and charged particle dependent, among other measures, again described in the Bethe-Bloch formula, linked above. ## Related - This is also how [[Proton Therapy]] works! - Not to be confused with [[Bragg's Law]]. ## Sources - https://www.bnl.gov/nsrl/userguide/bragg-curves-and-peaks.php [^1]: This is also known as [[Linear Energy Transfer]] or (LET) [^2]: this is a very general statement and will vary more for ions with varying masses.